Added another to the collection

[Darcy Warner]

There are hundreds of companies that made woodworking machinery over the last 150+years. One in particular that I have a thing for, Bentel & Margedant from Hamilton, OH. They were in business from the late 1860s to the early 1900s, they developed one of the most popular machines of the day, the universal woodworker.

I currently own a 36" BS, 24" planer with their triangular head, two universal woodworkers, a TS and last but not least, this jointer. I had owned another Bentel jointer before but sold it foolishly.

This one has the factory feeder on it and is probably the only one left intact anywhere.

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[Neil Gaskin]

That’s pretty sweet and appears to be in remarkable shape.

Do you use these often in your shop as primary equipment or collect/restore?

[Darcy Warner]

That’s pretty sweet and appears to be in remarkable shape.

Do you use these often in your shop as primary equipment or collect/restore?

My long term goal with the Bentel's is to get them set up for my personal/home shop. I do currently use several machines from the early 1900s in the millwork part of my shop. Sometimes things were best at what they do, a hundred years ago.

[Jim Andrew]

Wish I lived in an area where you could find vintage WW equipment. You have some cool stuff. Take that back, there was a shop that ran off a line shaft that sold in my home town about 45 years ago, when I was just out of school. That was when the lumberyard had an auction and sold out. That old equipment sold like it was gold plated.

[Kyle Foster]

That is totally awesome.

[marty fretheim]

Very cool! So that's what Noah used to build the Ark? I'd love to see the universal woodworker and the others if you would post pics. I see why you like the machines. Looks very well engineered. And, well that old stuff is just classy when it's done right.

Marty

[Darcy Warner]

Very cool! So that's what Noah used to build the Ark? I'd love to see the universal woodworker and the others if you would post pics. I see why you like the machines. Looks very well engineered. And, well that old stuff is just classy when it's done right.

Marty

I fell in love with the design of this Victorian era equipment. The designs are beautiful and look like pieces of art just sitting there.

[Matt Day]

The whole machine is cool, but the chain is interesting for sure too. Never seen one like that.

[Bradley Gray]

Awesome. Glad you saved it from the scrapyard.

[Darcy Warner]

Awesome. Glad you saved it from the scrapyard.

It would have never been scrapped. My buddy had it for 30+ years. I was fortunate to be able to pry it out of his clutches.

[Darcy Warner]

Wired up the Bentel table saw today so I could see what it sounded like.

https://youtu.be/JhyyCyae39w

[Mike Weaver]

Thanks for sharing! Cool stuff!

-Mike

[David Kumm]

Darcy, are the bearings babbit and how fast do you think they and the flat belt can run? Dave

[Darcy Warner]

Darcy, are the bearings babbit and how fast do you think they and the flat belt can run? Dave

Yes they are. I could easily run it at 3600 rpm.

[Kevin Beitz]

The whole machine is cool, but the chain is interesting for sure too. Never seen one like that.

That's called agg chain...