Photo Index - H. B. Smith Machine Co. - Surface Jointer

Machinery Photo Index

Manufactured/Badged by:
H. B. Smith Machine Co.
Lowell, MA; Smithville, NJ

Machine Specifications
Machine Class:	Wood Working Machinery
Machine Type:	Jointer
Machine Size:	20"
Submitted By:	Roger Birkhead

Machine Specifications
Description/Model:	Surface Jointer
Date of Manufacturer:	Circa 1900-1910
Serial Number:	2061
Last Updated	10/2/2007 9:45:32 AM

Comments:

This machine may have been a part of a group of woodworking tools originally used by the National Showcase Company of Columbus Georgia (or Medley [made foundry molds for Columbus area iron works], or Snellings Lumber Co. Phenix City). In 1953-54 it was purchased by Charles Howell and his brother who set up shop in Phenix City, AL building cabinetry, and displays for the nearby Bickerstaff Brick yards. He closed the shop in 1997. Most of the machinery has been converted to electric motor drive (3-phase), but most of the old pulleys were saved and still with the machines.
At first we could find no markings on this machine, but Mike Burian emailed me that he was sure it was an H B Smith machine. Mr. Howell thought this might have been made by H B Smith too. I went back this past weekend and sure enough with a clean rag and a little elbow grease I found the name H B Smith stenciled on the back side. It also has the number 2061 right above it. Odd that the name was not cast in. I have also noticed that all the H B Smith machines have the same style Stenciled numbers and they are all the same color of paint as the H B Smith stencil on this machine. Did H B Smith paint their serial numbers on?? This had a round cutter head so it may be later manufacture.

Thanks to some fortuitous email exchanges with William (Rick) Faris it appears that these stenciled numbers are in fact the serial number. Rick turned up a H B Smith Tennoning machine on ebay that had both a badge and a stencil with matching numbers.

Photo 1:

Comments: Operator side showing blade guard
Source: Roger Birkhead

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Photo 2:

Comments: H B Smith Stencil on rear
Source: Roger Birkhead

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Photo 3:

Comments: Close up of cutterhead guard
Source: Roger Birkhead

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