1880s Bentel and Margedent table saw

[Darcy Warner]

I have acquired a decent collection of machines made by Bentel and Margedent made in Hamilton, Ohio.

I have seen two of these saws, one had the miter gauge, but had extensive repairs to the blade yoke.

This one is in great shape for 140 years old or so, maybe I can track a miter head down...

Blade height can be adjusted easily with your foot.
I have had many tilt top saws, this is the only one I recall tilting this way.

I will probably stick a 16" blade on it and use it for ripping.

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The john deere paint job needs to go as well.

[Ben Helmich]

That is a cool saw! Would it have originally been powered by an overhead belt system?

[Darcy Warner]

That is a cool saw! Would it have originally been powered by an overhead belt system?

Where the motor currently is, is where the jack shaft for the original flat belt drive would have been. It was probably powered from a line shaft below the machine (up through the floor) otherwise a belt coming down would kind of be in the way. I believe there is an engraving of this saw in my 1880 Bentel catalog.

[Brian Holcombe]

Awesome piece of equipment!

[Darcy Warner]

Awesome piece of equipment!

They made some beautiful machinery. Not going to find a 140 year old scmi, hammer, felder, sawstop, Altendorf, etc. that you can still use to make stuff with.

[Malcolm McLeod]

Awesome piece of history. And I bet AutoZone doesn't carry that belt!:confused:

[glenn bradley]

Always love seeing your stuff Darcy. Thanks!

[Karl Loeblein]

What size motor runs this saw?

[Jim Becker]

That's quite a work of art, let alone a nice machine!

[Darcy Warner]

What size motor runs this saw?

It's a 5hp I believe.

[Darcy Warner]

That's quite a work of art, let alone a nice machine!

That's exactly my draw to them, high Victorian era styling and design, something we will never see again.

[Jim Becker]

Yea, style for sure. As long as a machine can be made to function properly and safely...wonderful stuff!

[Darcy Warner]

Yea, style for sure. As long as a machine can be made to function properly and safely...wonderful stuff!

The machine functions just fine, safety is up to the user.

[David Kumm]

What speed does the arbor run? Babbit? Dave

[Darcy Warner]

What speed does the arbor run? Babbit? Dave

Yes Babbitt. Currently I believe it was 2600 or 2700. Be perfect for a large diameter blade.

[Darcy Warner]

From my catalog

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[Bill Dufour]

I guess the new right tilt saws are jut copying this design from 1880.
Bil lD

[Bill Dufour]

Awesome piece of history. And I bet AutoZone doesn't carry that belt!:confused:


I bet. a modern serpentine automotive belt would be more then good enough for that low horsepower. Lathe owners often run them flat side in contact and lace them in the grooves or a glued splice.
Bil lD

[Michael Todrin]

Fine looking saw Darcy. What is that square hole for in the bottom right corner of picture four?

[David Kumm]

I think you can get any type of belt at Wm Sopko and Sons, Inc. Dave

[Darcy Warner]

Fine looking saw Darcy. What is that square hole for in the bottom right corner of picture four?

There are a two sets of those, the fence drops in those and then the one side with the wing nut gets tightened and that clamps the fence down.

[Michael Todrin]

Nice. Seems like a rock solid system for having different fence positions.