Photo Index - Hutchinson Manufacturing Co., Inc. - Beaver combination woodworker

Machinery Photo Index

Manufactured/Badged by:
Hutchinson Manufacturing Co., Inc.
Norristown, PA

Machine Specifications
Machine Class:	Wood Working Machinery
Machine Type:	Combo Machine
Machine Size:	10" saw/ 4" joiner
Submitted By:	James Huston

Machine Specifications
Description/Model:	Beaver combination woodworker
Date of Manufacturer:	unknown
Serial Number:	3-1961
Last Updated	1/7/2018 10:02:55 AM

Comments:

I was offered this machine by fellow OWWM'er Eric Clayton. His friend Shad purchased it at an auction primarily to save it and sold it to me for what he had in it. I jumped at the chance to get it and was able to secure a ride for it from my friend Mark who was heading to Dayton that weekend and was happy to make the trip to Muncie ( thanks, Mark!).

The Beaver was an early '30's design from Hutchinson that was also sold under the Porter Cable- Hutchinson name.The main market this machine was shooting for was the contractor; it was also available in trailer format with a gasoline Engine ( brand unknown , but with a distinct Wisconsin feel in the clip art). My particular example was missing the original joiner, but I've been squirreling away Hutchinson oddments and was able to find one that looks like the joiner in the prints ( Hutchinson was almost constantly changing small details; a time line is slowly coming to light with each example).

The Beaver is mainly a radial arm saw with provision to rip and join; horizontal boring is possible with the accessory table assembly, which I'd dearly love to find. By swinging the arm to the right, the motor pulley can be used to power either the joiner at the back of the unit or the table saw arbor beneath the wooden, tilting table. The saw cuts well ( although keeping the sliding rods clean and lubed is a must and excessive belt tension can make pulling the saw through its stroke a feat of strength), the main weakness being the small, almost elemental two piece fence. Accuracy is surprisingly good, and the quintessential Hutchinson twin screw mechanism that raises the table makes minor depth adjustments easier than just about any RAS I've used.

The Beaver was treated to the usual routine of stripping/repainting. The original motor has had its rotary switch replaced with a smaller one, but the saw is otherwise complete. I've come to really enjoy using it, as I have with the Hutchinson Handy Hutch saw/joiner and Speed Marvel shaper that grace my workshop. Hutchinson made some fascinating machines in their day, being simple, accurate and freight train tough.
Thanks to the help of some good people, the Beaver is back in its natural environment: standing in a drift of sawdust, next to a lumber rack.

Photo 1:

Comments: The Beaver with original table
Source: JHuston

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Photo 2:

Comments: side view showing joiner
Source: JHuston

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Photo 3:

Comments: The Hutchinson brothers
Source: JHuston

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