Photo Index - Delta / Rockwell Mfg / Rockwell-Delta - 14" Band Saw

Machinery Photo Index

Manufactured/Badged by:
Delta / Rockwell Mfg / Rockwell-Delta
Milwaukee, WI; Jackson, TN; Tupelo, MS

Machine Specifications
Machine Class:	Wood Working Machinery
Machine Type:	Band Saw
Machine Size:	14"
Submitted By:	Craig Stueve

Machine Specifications
Description/Model:	14" Band Saw
Date of Manufacturer:	1953
Serial Number:	105-2832
Last Updated	2/28/2006 12:00:00 AM

Comments:

I had been scouring auction sites, on line classifieds, local classifieds, and hitting local auctions for months looking for a good used band saw. I had no intention of buying something this old when I started looking. I am amazed at the prices that used band saws go for and how many people are apparently looking for them.

I was making my almost daily run thru the online listings when I found an add in a local classified only paper . It was listed with several other tools and since the paper had been out for a couple of days I was pretty certain that the saw would be gone. I called anyway and was told that he still had the saw and was asking $200 for it. All he knew about it was that it was a 14" Delta with a riser block installed. With that info I went ahead and set up a time to go and look the saw over that evening. I was expecting to see an 80's vintage saw and was a little uncertain just what to think of the saw.

I checked it over carefully and to my surprise everything seemed to be in good working order but very dirty. On a positive note the saw had obviously been used regularly and there were some updated parts on it. There was a hacked together dust collection system that had been added to the bottom of the saw. That along with the saws obvious age made me a little nervous and uncertain about what to do. I decided that I was going to pass on the saw since I really knew nothing about that saws from that era. I was not sure about parts availability or what the value would be on a saw of it's age and condition. I didn't want to get something that I would end up spending twice what I paid to get it up to and running the way it should for what I wanted to use it for.

As I drove home I thought about the saw a little more and decided to post a couple of questions about it on some WWing BBS. The responses I got by the next morning surprised me. Most of them went something along the lines of "Why are you still on the computer and not going get that saw for that price?" In reading the responses to my posts and bumping around the WWW trying to discover how old the saw actually was and most importantly what it was worth I found this site. The more I thought about it the more I liked the idea of having and caring for an piece of equipment that had been in service for 50+ years. With all of that in mind I called early the next morning and arranged to buy the saw that day for $180. Made the trip, loaded it up, and brought it home.

The saw is now in pieces being cleaned and replacing the bearings on the main shaft. Everything else looks to be in good shape. If all goes well and I am happy with the saw once it's back together I might then consider repainting it. I'm uncertain about doing that however since the saw is in pretty remarkable shape for it's age.

Photo 1:

Comments: front of saw
Source: myself

Direct Link
IMG Code

Photo 2:

Comments: back of saw
Source: myself

Direct Link
IMG Code