Do you recognise this band saw sharpener

[awemawson]

I recently bought this on a well know auction site as a suspected band saw blade sharpener. I bought it just to see if it was (!!) and I suspect that it is, but does anyone recognise it? Same place was selling all sorts of ancient woodworking and blacksmithing equipment, including an A L Dalton 30" ancient band saw which this possibly was an accessory (By a co-incidence I have just bought but not yet collected an identical machine) Both items seem to be 1900 -1930 sort of date from the nicely cast parts and finishing.

The 'sharpener' seems to draw a triangular file across the gullets of the teeth, lifting the file and indexing the blade on to the next tooth automatically as the lever is pulled and pushed. Not quite got the hang of it yet but it seems complete except for the file.

I cannot understand the purpose of the broad spring loaded clamp on the side of the device shown face on in the fourth picture.

Any comments / hints appreciated

 

[wallace]

sorry cant help with id but I like the sound of the old bandsaw. Any pictures?
Mark

 

[AndyT]

Presumably there are no nice easy clues like a maker's name or a patent number?
Patents are fairly easily searchable and you might find it by keyword (assuming it was patented at all.)
If it's American it could be here: http://www.datamp.org/index.php or on Google Patents - https://www.google.com/?tbm=pts

For Europe you could try http://worldwide.espacenet.com/?locale=en_EP

Happy hunting!

 

[awemawson]

No, no names or clues in the part detected so far!

A few photos of the band saw that I've bought:

And some of the apparently identical one on ebay ending tomorrow:

 

[SammyQ]

That frame shape is surely a Crescent bandsaw out of the States? Have a shufti on OWWM 'Mothership' data pages, they have multiple entries on Crescents, including manuals, cutaway drawings, lubrication etc. I know, 'cos I have a rip-off copy of a smaller model to yours and that site proved invaluable in sorting out what went where.

Sam

 

[awemawson]

It may be based on the Crescent, but doesn't match any on the owwm site. The head arrangement is also markedly different.

 

[SammyQ]

Ahh! Such is the value of this site - somebody has a better grip on the info than me; saves a lot of Yankee faffing about.
Thanks, awemawson. Sam

 

[Richard T]

If it is indeed a sharpener that uses a file .... is there still such a thing as a blade that is filable? The right shaped tooth (non hooked) and hand - saw - hard (no hard tips) ?

I think Dakin Flathers still make one but it's a few years since I checked.

 

[awemawson]

Well I've got it mounted on the bench, fixed a triangular file into it, played with the adjustments and lo and behold when pulling the lever back and forth the file is lifted, the blade is indexed one tooth right, the file lowered and file engages a gullet. The apparent 'clamp' on picture 4 is in fact a spring loaded rest that the carriage is limited by and adjusts the downwards pressure of the file on the saw. Needless to say all the pivots and bearing are horrendously worn, but I have no problem replacing them as I've a well equipped metalwork shop.

As for it's practicality - I suppose with a suitable diamond file it would work on a modern steel blade. Anyway it'll be fun resurrecting it.

 

[Tierney]

Ooh, I want one of those, tried Dakin Flathers website; but there didn't seem to be any. Something to keep an eye on e-bay for.

Does anyone have a link or guidance on how to do it by hand with a file? Most of the Internet results do it with a Dremel(which I don't want to buy) and I've got a few old big toothed blades that I want to sharpen.

DT

 

[AndyT]

Ooh, I want one of those, tried Dakin Flathers website; but there didn't seem to be any. Something to keep an eye on e-bay for.

Does anyone have a link or guidance on how to do it by hand with a file? Most of the Internet results do it with a Dremel(which I don't want to buy) and I've got a few old big toothed blades that I want to sharpen.

DT

In the spirit of the OP may I suggest "Grimshaw on Saws?"

and many more - start here:

http://openlibrary.org/books/OL7053367M/Saws

 

[bugbear]

Well I've got it mounted on the bench, fixed a triangular file into it, played with the adjustments and lo and behold when pulling the lever back and forth the file is lifted, the blade is indexed one tooth right, the file lowered and file engages a gullet. The apparent 'clamp' on picture 4 is in fact a spring loaded rest that the carriage is limited by and adjusts the downwards pressure of the file on the saw. Needless to say all the pivots and bearing are horrendously worn, but I have no problem replacing them as I've a well equipped metalwork shop.

As for it's practicality - I suppose with a suitable diamond file it would work on a modern steel blade. Anyway it'll be fun resurrecting it.

It would be great if you could post a little video of it (more or less) working when you've cleaned it up - it sounds fascinating.

BugBear