12" Craftsman Band Saw, 1938ish

[Mark Gibney]

I have two versions of the Craftsman 12" band saw model 102.01121, and I will keep and restore one of them.
They are slightly different from each other - one has hinged wheel covers, the other has the more typical system of securing the covers with a knurled knob on a threaded stem, similar to the Delta 14" band saws. Help me chose which one to keep!

The saw will be more of a curio to me than a working saw. A little bit of history.
I've taken screenshots of the saws on the Vintage Machinery website, so these pics are not my actual saws - there are lots with the "knob / threaded stem" system, and one "not yet restored" saw with a hinged wheel cover, but you'll see what I mean.

479434 479435 479436

Help me chose which saw to keep. I feel the hinged covers may be more convenient but the saw won't get heavy use, and the knurled knobs are cool.
thanks, Mark

[Maurice Mcmurry]

Those are neat old saws! I would keep both, assuming I had space. I keep a very fine blade on my antique Craftsman 10 inch for cutting bone and brass. I want another one to keep a fine wood blade on. The hinged covers is a nice feature. What year do you think yours are?

[Jim Becker]

I'd pick the one that's already been restored and make any required minor tweaks to it. :)

[Mark Gibney]

Maurice, I'm not sure of the exact year of either saw, I think they came out in '38 and I don't know for how long they were made.
Jim, neither saw has been restored, so it's a coin toss in that respect.
Sorry, there isn't much to go on to choose between A or B, and I was hoping someone would say perhaps the hinged covers are rare, so there's that, or something about the knob one, but I don't have any more to give you. Heads or tails?

[Jim Becker]

Sorry, I thought the one with the nice paint had been attended to.

[John Kananis]

Working on two identical saws simultaneously won't exactly cost you twice the time. I would take them both apart, restore both and sell the one that doesn't "speak" to me. During the resto, one saw may give you insight into the other's problem area(s).

[Jim Becker]

That's a good observation, John. I like that idea, honestly.

[Mark Gibney]

Likewise, I like that idea. Thanks guys.