Treadle Powered Machines by Pat Ryan
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NUMBER 183 MARCH 2016 A Journal of Tool Collecting published by CRAFTS of New Jersey I think just about Treadle Powered Machines around it. This turns a anyone that collects, uses By Pat Ryan wheel on the machine on or studies tools in any way the table above that powers will stop and take a closer look the machine. Most foot powered at a hand or foot powered ma- machines have a fly wheel. Notice chine when they come across I call them a fly wheel instead of a one. I find them very interesting, pulley. A fly wheel is heavy cast especially when one understands iron that once turning provides the workings involved in getting momentum for the machine to the machine to work properly. power through its cut. Of course Thus I find myself intrigued in many are powered by a different the history of the machine and method. For example, some of the the company that made it during fly wheels are powered by a rod or the early American Industrial bar that is pushed back and forth Revolution. to make it turn. Some have pad- Foot powered machines dles that are pumped up and down are commonly called “treadle such as W. C. Young and Seneca machines”. Treadle machine is Falls. Some companies like W. F. more of a generic term used for a & B. Barns used the velocipede or foot powered machine. Although bicycle peddles method to power many times they are “treadle”, Star treadle scroll saw by Miller Falls the fly wheel. Most hand powered many times they are not. The in perfect working condition. machines use a crank. Many of the most common example I give hand crank machines also use a fly when describing a treadle machine is the treadle wheel for momentum. sewing machine because most people are familiar My first foot powered machine was a with them as they were very common. I describe treadle scroll saw that I came across at an Allen- a treadle mechanism as a platform of some type town Pa. antique show. It was in working order for your foot that is rocked back and forth by with an additional grinding wheel and a chuck for your foot action. The platform has a push rod at- drill bits, all run by the treadle. The name THE tached to it that turns a fly wheel with a belt STAR, was cast into the front. The STAR line was manufactured by The Millers Falls Co. The June Issue Contents STAR line of scroll saw was made from 1898 Treadle Powered Machines - Pat Ryan……...…………..….…....1, 3-6 until 1915 and sold for $8.50. (Continued on pg. 3) President’s Corner. ...…….…………………….…….……….……....2 Price Plane—Bob Garay………………………………....………....6-7 Stories An Old Saw Can Tell - Bob Garay ..……..………...….…..8-9 April 3, 2016 CRAFTS Meeting Rule What’s It - Stew May…………………..……………………....10 Masonic Lodge, Highbridge, NJ CRAFTS Member Wins Award…………...………………………...10 April 16, 2016 CRAFTS Auction Plane Crazy - Joe Hauck….. …………..…………………………….11 Tool Events …………………………….………………...………….12 Oldwick Fire House, Oldwick, NJ Want Ads..…….……….…………….…..………...….….………….12 THE TOOLSHED - MARCH 2016 Collectors of Rare and Familiar Tools Society President’s Corner of New Jersey Every February we have our meeting on President……………………….………BOB GARAY, Hopatcong the same day as the Super Bowl. This Febru- ……………………………………..email, [email protected] ary I had a “super” meeting with CRAFTS. Vice President………………..…IVAN RAUPP, Bloomsbury, NJ Secretary………………….…ANNETTE VLIET, Danielsville, PA The day started early, meeting Herb for break- Treasurer…………………..………HANK ALLEN, Glen Rock, NJ fast, then heading to the parking lot tailgating. It was an unusually warm day for the begin- The purpose of CRAFTS of New Jersey is to encourage in- terest in early trades and industries, and in the identification, ning of February and attendance for the tail- study, preservation and exhibition of tools and implements gating was well attended. As usual, all morn- used and made in New Jersey as an integral part of our herit- ing long members kept arriving with more age. tools for the tailgating. Picking dealers tables was mixed with helping members bringing Membership in CRAFTS is open to anyone who shares the above interests. Annual dues per person or couple are fifteen tools for the upcoming auction. This meeting dollars for the membership year of July 1 through June 30. was a special one for me as I was giving a Membership fees may be sent to: Hank Allen, 524 Harris- presentation on the Stanley bench plane type town Road, Glen Rock, NJ 07452 (write check payable to study, and wrapping it up with a workshop on CRAFTS of New Jersey). tuning-up these bench planes. When the time CRAFTS of NJ meetings are held at the HOST Masonic came for the meeting to start I was happily Lodge in High Bridge, NJ. Take I-78 to Route 31 exit at surprised to see a full house of 60 members. Clinton. Go north on Rte. 31 two miles to second traffic light The presentation went well and I was flattered at the High Bridge exit. Turn right and go about half a mile as I got a round of applause at the end. Many to Dennis Ave. Turn left, then straight to the Masonic Lodge members came up at the end of the meeting (on the left). Tailgate sales in the parking lot begin at 10 A.M., meeting starts at 1 P.M. and shook my hand commenting on what a The TOOL SHED fine job I had done. I know I was a teacher for Published four times a year for members of CRAFTS of New thirty years but I never received a reception Jersey. Editor: Bob Garay 15 N. River Styx Rd. Hopatcong, like this from my students. Thanks guys! NJ 07843—(973)398-5875 - Articles, especially about early Of importance this time of year is the ap- tools and trades, are encouraged and may be sent to the Edi- tor. Email—[email protected] proaching auction. Many members are work- ing hard to get everything ready. Of special CRAFTS WEBSITE magnitude this year is that auction listings will www.craftsofnj.org be posted on the Dennis Auction web site and this will also be posted on Auction Zip. The Containing general information about CRAFTS and its activ- CRAFTS auction is always the place for great ities including: meeting schedules, Tool Shed articles, etc. antique and user quality tools. But don’t for- get that also notable is the members tailgate NEW MEMBERS sales before the auction. Any member can par- ticipate in selling during the pre-auction fes- Ernest Bouyet Hopatcong, NJ tivities so get there early as spaces fill up Don Burd Boulder, CO quickly. Ron Harber Strafford, MO John Ladd North Adams, MA John Lepes Flanders, NJ Ted Myers Phillipsburg, NJ Anthony Wagner Wrightstown, PA Steve Wenzel Sparta, NJ Above is an example of some of the fine tools at the Scott Willett Suffield, CT upcoming CRAFTS auction. This is a N. Erlandsen miter plane made for the piano makers in NY City. THE TOOLSHED - MARCH 2016 2 (Cont. from pg. 1) Star saw showing the grinding wheel and the drill chick. Miller Falls introduced the Star Saw to meet the demand for an amateur machine more substantial Goodell-Pratt No.125 miniature treadle lathe. than its New Rogers model. The drive wheel on the Star Saw was heavier than that of the New Rogers with turning lathe that could hold collets, cut threads and the extra weight providing additional power for sawing mount a simple milling slide. The No.125 has a swing thicker stock. The saw's arms were centered, rather of 7" and a between-centers capacity of 12". It is 25" than attached to the side of their support casting, long overall, stands 11 ½” high on its twin feet and providing for more efficient movement. The upper arm weighs 30 lbs. rode atop the frame, and the back of the lower arm passed through an opening in the frame assembly. The arrangement allowed the arms to remain parallel dur- ing operation, creating an efficient walking beam mo- tion. My next machine was a Goodell-Pratt lathe model No.125. Although it was far from being the treadle machine it is today, or even operational at all. I bought this one from a man who had retired the year before and was moving to Florida. He told me the lathe was his grandfathers and he remembered playing with it as a young boy. It had most of the parts for basic functions. Big nuts and bolts replaced the miss- ing correct ones, and it was rusty and dirty. But it was a good start for a lengthy restoration. Better known for their vast range of hand and measuring tools, Goodell-Pratt's miniature lathes and milling machine were very much an adjunct to this Above - The Slide Rest (Part 132), with its curved-edge business, not a major part of it. The first machine in ways, had a longitudinal travel of 3.75" and a cross the lineage was probably a miniature treadle lathe, of 2.25", was described by the makers (in their usual honest manufactured by A. D. Goodell at the Millers Falls style) as “a strong and thorough well-made device although Factory during the 1880s. Although the No.125 was not a precision tool.” Because the top slide did not swivel marketed as a simple wood or metal lathe, a remarka- on its base, the assembly could not be described as a proper bly wide range of accessories was available from "compound" slide.