Popular Woodworking 2004-10 № 143, страница 42

Great Woodshops

they're not just in his shop - another half dozen are on display in his home.

While these machines are a treasure, the real gold in Batory's collection are the manuals. I asked Batory how he found the unique machines and manuals and his answer was simple: "Dumb luck."

DIY Restoration

Batory frequently is contacted by non-collectors who have come across older machines and are interested in trying to sell them. While he is willing to help by providing information, his first passion is the collection of information, not commerce.

Much old machinery information can be found online. A following of old-machinery enthusiasts regularly gather at Old Woodworking Machines (oldwwmachines.com) to share information in the online discussion forum.

Keith Bohn, founder of the forum, says he first stumbled upon Batory in 1999. "I'd bought a 1939 Delta Unisaw Model No. 1450 which my wife quickly dubbed 'El Guapo'.

While still very functional, this foot-powered mortiser/tenoner (purchased for $35) is a lot more fun as a conversation piece.

The only available means of research was the local library, as there wasn't anything on the Web at the time. I stumbled upon a reference to Dana and - not knowing any better - I called him. Despite the fact that he didn't care for people calling him out of the blue, he was quite gracious and did what he could to help me out. This conversation sparked what would become a flame, which has since developed into a raging inferno. I consider him to be the 'Father of the Old Woodworking Machinery Forum.'"

If you're looking for a deal and are willing to put some time and energy into rehabbing an older machine, Batory recommends looking at machines from Crescent and the Fay & Egan company. "Fay & Egan never made a clunker," he says.

Other brands worth looking at are Tan-newitz for band saws, Oliver Machinery for table saws and Whitney for planers.

A Tidbit of History

As much as Batory enjoys researching the machines, he also enjoys studying the history of the companies. One piece of history from Batory's book that's of note is Oliver Machinery's introduction of round cutterheads to the U.S. market. The head was first developed in England and later in Germany, where it was patented in 1908. Oliver purchased the German patent the same year.

The May 1910 issue of "The Grand Rapids Furniture Record" states: "The Oliver Machinery Company were the first American makers of machinery to market a cutting cylinder for use in a hand planer (jointer) that would save the operator's fingers and hands from serious mutilation."

Originally, cutterheads were square in cross-section and left large intermittent gaps between the jointer tables while in operation that could catch an unwary user's fingers.

NEED INFO ON A TOOL?

A copy of the 70-plus page list of the catalogs Batory has available can be obtained by sending $7.50 (money orders only) by regular mail to:

D. M. Batory

402 E. Bucyrus St.

Crestline, OH 44827

The Craftsman tilt-top table saw was revolutionary for the early '40s. All of today's table saws owe their lineage to this machine. We now tilt the arbor rather than the table, but it's nice to see the beginnings of such an important machine.

"Though the round cutterhead was originally invented to prevent serious accidents, its side benefits were less noise, less vibration, efficient use of power and smoother surfacing," Batory wrote in his book.

The design continues as a mainstay in nearly every woodshop jointer today.

It's hard to say whether Batory's shop is more interesting because of the physical machinery still in use or for the history that's still accessible. Either way, for those interested in old woodworking machines, Batory is a good man to have around. PW

Dana Batory: writer, historian, woodworker

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Popular Woodworking October 2004