Photo Index - Heston & Anderson - Model 700

Machinery Photo Index

Manufactured/Badged by:
Heston & Anderson
Fairfield, IA

True Manufacturer:
Heston & Anderson, Fairfield, IA

Machine Specifications
Machine Class:	Wood Working Machinery
Machine Type:	Shaper, Wood
Machine Size:	1/2" spindle
Submitted By:	Steven Rassler

Machine Specifications
Description/Model:	Model 700
Date of Manufacturer:	1940?
Serial Number:
Last Updated	12/30/2023 6:25:03 PM

Comments:

This machine has no tags, decals or other markings indicating the manufacturer. My thanks go to Reuben Deumling (and others) for identifying it for me. Whether it was originally sold with a Blue Star badge is anyone’s guess, but it matches the Model 700 as shown in the Blue Star catalogs from 1939 and 1941, found elsewhere on this site.

Comparing features shown in those two catalogs, the 1941 edition shows this model with the main casting (holding the spindle and connecting it to the column) having a rectangular, tubular cross section, and with a “new” adjusting screw for adjusting this casting’s height on the column. The earlier 1939 catalog shows this model with a solid (not tubular) main casting having a cross section like an I-beam, and without the column adjusting screw. This particular machine has the tubular main casting, but it lacks the column adjusting screw and any evidence of ever having had one. This machine may thus date to 1940, after the casting change but before the adjusting screw was added (I’m waving my hands here).

Table is 20” square; support column is 1-7/8” diameter; weight without motor is about 92 pounds. The fence casting seems to be aluminum; all other castings are iron. The machine is surprisingly stable on its round base, but something like the plywood addition shown under Reuben’s 700 still looks like a good idea (see his separate posting).

Bought via craigslist. The PO told me this shaper belonged to his great uncle, and PO is almost as gray-haired as I am, so that clearly takes it back a few decades. PO couldn’t demo it for me because the motor had a problem with its start circuit. A new start capacitor took care of that, and I’ve since remounted the motor for a test. By my calculation, the motor and pulleys installed were running the spindle at about 8000 rpm, and it ran well, with very little vibration considering that it probably still has its original, eighty-plus-year-old spindle bearings (is grease ever still greasy at that age?).

Those bearings will be replaced. This will be a fun project.

Photo 1:

Comments: As bought, with an Atlas motor
Source: self

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Photo 2:

Comments: Left side
Source: self

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Photo 3:

Comments: Right side
Source: self

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Photo 4:

Comments: The 92-pound version, with motor removed
Source: self

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