Photo Index - C. O. Porter Machinery Co. - "20 A" Pattern makers

Machinery Photo Index

Manufactured/Badged by:
C. O. Porter Machinery Co.
Grand Rapids, MI

Machine Specifications
Machine Class:	Wood Working Machinery
Machine Type:	Jointer
Machine Size:	20"
Submitted By:	Mark Brockmann

Machine Specifications
Description/Model:	"20 A" Pattern makers
Date of Manufacturer:	around 1900 ? (s/n 449)
Serial Number:	449 (View SN Registry Entry)
Last Updated	12/8/2006 2:38:04 AM

Comments:

Originally sold by Fox Machine in Grand Rapids, this jointer has planed tables 24" by 86" with ground anti-suction grooves.
More on Porter Jointers of this type from Ray Muno...
http://www.owwm.com/files/PDF/Porter/PorterJointer.pdf
The cutter is a two knife round Oliver "safety cylinder", made 1912, patented 1908, with large 1-1/4" head four hole 1/2" mounting bolts, and weighs well over 100 lbs. I assume the cutter was an upgrade, added later, but could have been installed on the machine originally. It is roughly 40 inches long and one solid machined shaft from end to end including the 5 belt sheave. It requires a two pin tool to remove the bolts, which I don't have.
See Bill Thomas' tool here...
http://www.owwm.com/files/PDF/FAQ/OliverWrench.pdf#search='1%20taper%20pin%20oliver'

More on this cutter...
http://www.owwm.com/files/PDF/Oliver/Oliver_Cutterheads_Cat_21-1918.pdf

This Jointer has a pattern makers tilt mechanism (operated by hand wheel under infeed table) that needs freed up.

The Babbett's are worn and were set up for injected grease, which I converted back to oil lube. Even with the bearing housing bolts just hand snug, the babbetts get extremely hot. The cutter head is also quite difficult to get moving, even with said bolts backed off. I'm debating whether to convert it to ball bearing (flange mounts). This will require some serious labor. Or I might just take Bills advice and repour the babbett metal.

The old 5HP Westinghouse 1725 runs it nicely, but won't start it well, and I have to pivot the motor after it gets up to speed to achieve belt tension and get the cutter rolling gradually. I think a 3450 would work much better on this machine as the drive sheave could be reduced in size, reducing the needed startup torque... I think.

The tables are flat, but it needs some shim-work on the trunnions to get it operating accurately. (They LEAN this way and that)

Curiously, this is the only machine I've seen that is grooved on top. I think it is also the only "20 A" listed here for now.

Photo 1:

Comments: 20" Oliver 2 knife "safety"... OEM???
Source: Although, the "safety" seems quite a debate

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Photo 2:

Comments: more pics in c.o. & a.d. porter listing
Source:

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Photo 3:

Comments:
Source:

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