Photo Index - Oliver Machinery Co. - #20-D (before)

Machinery Photo Index

Manufactured/Badged by:
Oliver Machinery Co.
Grand Rapids, MI

Machine Specifications
Machine Class:	Wood Working Machinery
Machine Type:	Lathe, Wood
Machine Size:	30" Swing, 12' Bed
Submitted By:	Chuck Hess

Machine Specifications
Description/Model:	#20-D (before)
Date of Manufacturer:	1946
Serial Number:	Serial # 65797 (View SN Registry Entry)
Last Updated	11/21/2009 4:54:00 PM

Comments:

Oliver 20-D Pattern Maker’s Lathe w/ 12’ Bed and Power Feeding Carriage. 11-21-09
Serial # 65797, 1946

Hey,
We just scored this awesome arn and picked it up yesterday. It was about an 800 mile round trip in which we, my boys a friend and I, combined some other business and pleasure stops along the way, so that made a pretty full day. The trip went very smoothly however loading was a little sketchy. First we were greeted by the junkyard dog, which immediately started biting all the van tires and lifting his leg on them. The seller had a rough looking boom truck for loading, and a lady came out of the house and explained that she was going to operate the boom because she was a much better operator than the guy. Scary. But the worst part was the boom literally rained hydraulic fluid, it was leaking so badly. She did manage to get the lathe up in the air and I backed the trailer under it successfully. We quickly found a coin operated wash and sprayed all the fluid off the lathe and trailer. I hate that when you get hydraulic fluid on your straps!
I did not get any history about the machine from the seller who did not know much about the machine, or even what it was. The lathe had some nicely done shop fabricated dust collection accessories with it that showed me that at some point this machine had been used by a master who probably loved the machine. The bad news is it has been left outside and needs a restoration. The number etching in the bed looks really good and leads me to believe that the lathe will clean up nicely with little lasting damage. It also has had 2” riser blocks added to the headstock, tailstock and carriage, so I guess that really makes this a 20-E ;^) I usually take stuff like that off a machine as fast as I can, but in this case it has been so well done that I am considering leaving it modified. I did a little cleaning on it this AM and it was pretty easy for me to envision this baby being all restored and painted and beautiful like our other one. The 12' bed is a nice size because that will yield about 8' centers which is pretty good for interior posts and stuff.

Photo 1:

Comments: Front Shot
Source: Seller's Pic

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Photo 2:

Comments: Rear Shot
Source: Seller's Pic

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Photo 3:

Comments: Da Badge
Source: Mines

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Photo 4:

Comments: da other badge
Source: Mines

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Photo 5:

Comments: Back at the shop
Source: Mines

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Photo 6:

Comments: da junkyard dog
Source: Mines

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