Photo Index - Other Maker - 1945 Shop Built Bandsaw 25"

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Manufactured/Badged by:
Other Maker
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Machine Specifications
Machine Class:	Wood Working Machinery
Machine Type:	Band Saw
Machine Size:	25"
Submitted By:	Phil Kezele

Machine Specifications
Description/Model:	1945 Shop Built Bandsaw 25"
Date of Manufacturer:	1945
Serial Number:	1
Last Updated	1/24/2018 10:17:08 PM

Comments:

This is an unusual bandsaw that I acquired through my father-in-law from one of his best friends who worked as a Boeing Engineer during the war effort of World War II. Mr. JM Streckenbach was an outstanding woodworker and machinist outside his regular day job at the Boeing Field plant. He was just a young man and up and coming engineer, home machinist, woodworker, and family man at the end of World War II.

Although I do not know the whole story about how he designed and built this saw, I acquired it through friendship with my father-in law; Robert Gross, through their mutual appreciation of horology (clocks). I came by it early in the 1990's when it became evident that Mr. Strenkenbach was in his last few years of his very long life. I understand that this was entirely built by JM from spare parts and raw materials acquired through his work at the Boeing Co. and through his wife; who, i understand worked at the local Sears store. He used this saw throughout his life at his home in North Seattle.

About the technicals of the saw;

This saw is constructed in the 3 wheel/pulley design; i.e. one lower drive pulley, and two upper pulleys to move the saw blade across the top of the saw body to the guides below. It requires a 121" +/- blade. It is powered by a 1 hp Sears repulsion induction motor. Part of the uniqueness is its ability to run in slow speed operations for metal cutting operations. The slow speed was accomplished by the drive/transmission mechanism which is commonly found in washing machines (Sears) which sit in-between the motor drive pulley and the drive pulley providing the inertia for driving the saw blade. There is a regular electrical switch which turned on engages a small pulley arm found on the washing machine transmission which slows the speed of the belt going to the drive pulley on the saw. I hope that makes sense and I plan to remove the saw back at some point to document that feature.

Finally, since JM worked at Boeing and during the War effort, he often visited the onsite company store where he found the needed parts to complete the saw. Of special interest, was a B17 navigators light that he mounted to see the blade better as it moved through the hand made guides. I followed up with the Museum of Flight at Boeing and spoke with the Assistant Curator and Research Team Leader; John Little, who was able to verify with the B-17 crew chief; Dale Thompson, and he verified and provided photos from one of the B-17's on site.

Photo 1:

Comments: Original saw and base as built by JM Streckenbach, 1945
Source: My D500 Nikon

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Photo 2:

Comments: Bandsaw Name and Design
Source: My D500 Nikon

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Photo 3:

Comments: Typical B-17 Navigator's station in a B-17
Source: Courtesy The Museum of Flight, Boeing Field, Seattle

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Photo 4:

Comments: B-17 Navigators Station (Note: navigator's light shade in top middle of this photo)
Source: Courtesy The Museum of Flight, Boeing Field, Seattle

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Photo 5:

Comments: B-17 Navigator's station on Restored B-17
Source: Courtesy of Dale Thompson, The Museum of Flight Seattle

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Photo 6:

Comments: Navigator's Lamp on Actual B-17, Identical to the Streckensaw's light.
Source: Courtesy of Dale Thompson, The Museum of Flight Seattle

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