Photo Index - Charles E. Wright Co. - 30 inch Pattern Machine"Favorite"

Machinery Photo Index

Manufactured/Badged by:
Charles E. Wright Co.
New Orange, NJ; Kenilworth, NJ

Machine Specifications
Machine Class:	Wood Working Machinery
Machine Type:	Band Saw
Machine Size:	30 inch
Submitted By:	Tony Baulch

Machine Specifications
Description/Model:	30 inch Pattern Machine"Favorite"
Date of Manufacturer:	approx 1908
Serial Number:	?96
Last Updated	4/30/2006 12:00:00 AM

Comments:

Gday from sunny Australia,
This was advertised in the local paper .I already own a 12 in bandsaw and was looking for a larger one to cut woodturning blanks and cut wider veneers.
The saw was being sold by a local stonemason for his son who was a woodworking teacher who had relocated to New Zealand.He had elected not to take the saw with him and at 1000+ lbs I can understand why.
The saw was complete,minus the tracking adjustment shaft,and in reasonable order.It had an ugly steel upper wheel guard and very ordinary temporary lower guards for wheel and drive train.It had several layers of paint with matt black on the bottom.This may or may not be original but I liked it so I used it.Grease cups were in place except the bottom end drive side and guess what that bearing was well worn whilst the rest were in reasonable order.
I have a good friend who is a highly skilled mechanical engineer and with his help we fitted a larger diameter shaft(40mm) ;turned a new taper for the bottom wheel and turned down the other end for the drive pulley(triple A section v belt).
The bottom end of this saw has cast iron shells held in alignment in the body with Babbit(we Aussies call it white metal) and single retaining bolts.
The shells turned out beautifully and we were able to refit them in perfect alignment without repouring the babbit.
The top wheel has babbit in the hub with a steel shaft;currently reasonable,but I am not looking forward to doing this one when it needs it.
The Wright blade Guides are plain bearing ones and well worn.I am fitting little stub axles for ball bearings.
The tabletop still has machining marks and no rust erosions.
Wheel rubbers are good and the wheels are running very true.The top tyre needs crowning.
2hp single phase motor at present,3 phase may happen.
I am currently building wooden wheel guarding modelled on the elegant guards of Bill Thomas on his 36in saw.
This is my biggest restoration yet and has taken a while,but it feels good to get it wright!
Cheers from Geelong Australia!
Tony

Photo 1:

Comments: After painting
Source: My Fuji 810

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Photo 2:

Comments: bearing shell and babbit mounting in base
Source: Fuji 810

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Photo 3:

Comments: Guarding in process
Source: Fuji 810

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