Photo Index - Yates-American Machine Co., Inc. - J-180

Machinery Photo Index

Manufactured/Badged by:
Yates-American Machine Co., Inc.
Beloit, WI; Roscoe, IL; Liberty, NC

Machine Specifications
Machine Class:	Wood Working Machinery
Machine Type:	Planer, Wood
Machine Size:	18"
Submitted By:	Tony S

Machine Specifications
Description/Model:	J-180
Date of Manufacturer:	1950's
Serial Number:	J-180-319 (View SN Registry Entry)
Last Updated	10/19/2007 1:06:05 AM

Comments:

I found this planer on eBay. Nobody had bid on it and the auction had ended a few weeks prior. Figuring it was long gone to the scrap yard or to some other clever bottom feeder, I emailed the seller asking about it's availability. "It's still here and I still want it gone". While I was doing some research, I got another email asking if I was interested or not as he was going to re-list it. Not wanting to have to compete against the rest of you bottom feeders (feeling I'd probably lose), I told him I'd take it.

The Dude and I took to the road.

My first encounter with a Yates American machine, I wasn't sure what to expect. I took a flashlight and wandered around the machine as if I had a clue. Nothing obviously broken, or missing, I asked to hear it run. Far quieter than I ever expected, I was sold. I paid, he lowered it into the trailer onto a skid I made and we were on our way.

As for most things I've bought and had assistance loading, I thought nothing of how to actually unload the 1000lb behemoth once I got to the other side. In the end, it went very smoothly. The angle where the road and the first stage of my driveway meet makes for a level shot off of the trailer when the ramp is down, so a quick tug of the rented pallet jack and it was unloaded.

Right now the machine is sitting in the corner of my garage patiently awaiting restoration. The weight and bar are missing on the chipbreaker and it needs some work on the feed speed dial. Being one of the earlier J-180 models, it has the domed feed speed lever with a ball/spring detent for the different speeds. The direct drive motor is 5hp (3-phase) and shares the same shaft as the cutterhead. The previous owner installed a new starter for the motor (it's shiny, and that's about all I know about that).

Thanks to Roger Van Maren (among others) who has been very helpful through the process of gathering information on this machine. I'll post more pictures when the transformation begins!

Photo 1:

Comments: Patiently waiting for restoration (or the end of the world... whichever comes first)
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Photo 2:

Comments: Subtle yet attractive motor vent
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Photo 3:

Comments: Motor tag located on side of machine (Actual machine serial number is stamped into the bed)
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