Thanks: 19
Likes: 18
Needs Pictures: 1
Picture(s) thanks: 4
Results 76 to 90 of 126
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17th January 2016, 07:39 PM #76
This label is on a small bandsaw sharpening machine. If anyone has any information would be appreciated.
DSCN1462S.jpg
This is a familiar one... It is on my band saw.
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JimSometimes in the daily challenges that life gives us, we miss what is really important...
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20th January 2016, 07:33 AM #77
The rack and pinion adjustment for the fence is similar to a Barker.
It would be interesting to know the date of this machine as Wadkin had a very crude adjustment system on their earlier jointer fences. On a 1920s Wadkin I had the bed had a dovetail slot in it, spanner adjusted from memory.
H.Jimcracks for the rich and/or wealthy. (aka GKB '88)
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20th January 2016, 08:33 AM #78
Hi Ausannie,
That is just an amazing body of information right there, thank you so much for sharing.
The fact that the history is up on the forum for everyone to view is just amazing, folk that own sparrow machines can now look at where and who build their machine.
For me this is so important as it is part of our heritage when manufacturing was at its peak in Australia, and an wonderful tool for researchers looking into the past.
Ausannie, we can't thank you enough for this, people like you are rare, we are very lucky to hear from you !
Cam, I'm curious also about the connection, especially since the 1960 Mcphersons anniversary edition has this in their machinery range.
Melbourne Matty.
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20th January 2016, 10:01 AM #79New Member
- Join Date
- Jan 2016
- Location
- Metung
- Age
- 64
- Posts
- 5
Hi Melbourne Matty,
I don't know of any connection between Sparrows & Macson/McPherson, and unfortunately anyone that I know who could have told me has passed on. If I do find anything else out I'll surely let you know. In the interim, since there has been so much interest in the people behind the R & EH Sparrow business, I'm attaching a few more photos:
- Photo of the front of the Westgarth St premises, taken when it was still in operation,
- Photo of Edward Henry Sparrow in his workshop.
- Photo of a gold battery at scarsdale built & owned by the Sparrow family (not really related to the thread, but it was made of wood!! ;-) )
- Photo of some of the workers at smoko. My grandfather Lyndsay Arthur Sparrow at left (so photo taken around mid 1920s). Second from left another of EH Sparrow's sons, Eric Dane Sparrow.
- Photo of Victor Edward Sparrow (eldest son of Edward Henry)
- Photo of Lyndsay Sparrow (right) at Barkers. Not sure who the person on the left is, but assume it is one of the Barkers.
Unfortunately I don't have any photos of Francis Sparrow as he was a Christian Israelite (religion) and any sort of photo/image was forbidden by the religion.
Cheers,
Andrea
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20th January 2016, 01:58 PM #80
Hi Andrea,
I'd like to add my thanks for this look into the history of your family.
Those are magnificent pictures.
I've been lucky enough to get family histories when I've purchased collections of hand tools, and been allowed to publish them to the net.
Recently a couple of Maling family members came to visit and inspect some tools in my collection. It was thrill to have them visit.
Tools of John Butler Maling
Mods ..?? What about putting this Sparrow history in it's own separate topic?
Cheers,
Peter<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <woNotOptimizeForBrowser/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]-->
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20th January 2016, 09:13 PM #81
Andrea , Thanks SO much for the effort you have gone to showing us your family history. Its just fantastic to see those pictures.
Ive just spent an hour looking closely at the Guys sitting out the front at smoko , the detail is great , the shoes ! and what they are holding in their hands and the expressions on the faces . " Its smoko time in Fitzroy " Hurry up Im doing my crossword " ?? Or writing a note ?
And Edward Henry on the lathe !!! Just great .
When I first bought the Sparrow machine I have , Pete (Lightwood) and myself sat at a computer and searched for Sparrow in Westgarth st Fitzroy.We found a lead and came up with the address of 121 Westgarth st Fitzroy , we then did a google earth search and looked at the building as it is today . On the corner of Westgarth and Young .That's the best we could come up with until you showed up . Thanks.
The Sparrow Face plate lathe, which is what I converted it to, has been working turning radius dishes for me , which have been sold onto acoustic guitar makers . So your relatives hand work is helping some guys build wooden acoustic guitars now.
You cant beat Babbitt bearings for simplicity and strength .
That shows that quality lasts doesn't it !
Rob
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20th January 2016, 09:21 PM #82<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <woNotOptimizeForBrowser/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]-->
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21st January 2016, 06:28 PM #83Taking a break
- Join Date
- Aug 2008
- Location
- Melbourne
- Age
- 34
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- 5,906
You never fail to deliver, Matty. That Barker-Sparrow sander is the exact one we had in a 24". I always thought the cover on the right hand side and the sheet metal covers under the table were add ons.
I think we let it go for $1000
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22nd January 2016, 10:31 AM #84New Member
- Join Date
- Jan 2016
- Location
- Metung
- Age
- 64
- Posts
- 5
Hi Rob,
Thanks for those photos. The building has been modified since it was used by my family as it now appears to have a skylight.
I am also wondering if one of those guys sitting on the step might be Reuben, as the one on the left, with the dark hair, looks like a Sparrow. Reuben was apparently very tall, just over 6 foot in height, and the guy on the left looks pretty lanky to me, although it is hard to be sure, and my grandfather said he had curly hair, which also fits. The photo would have to have been taken by 1925 as Reuben died in October of 1925. Neither of Reuben's sons followed him into the engineering trade, and it is interesting that Reuben's shares in the business were left to his daughters after his death.
It's been a very pleasant surprise to learn that equipment built by the family is still in use. Quite a few family members had Sparrow Craftmasters at home, including my Dad.
If I come across anything else on the business I'll certainly post it, since there is so much interest.
Cheers,
Ausannie
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22nd January 2016, 02:55 PM #85
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22nd January 2016, 03:31 PM #86
Hi Ausannie, thank you so much for putting up the beautiful photos of your relatives at work and play, what an absolute treat !
To see old black and white photos like that is such a step back in time, it's just such a great insight into early life, I actually like the battery quartz crusher, it demonstrates how versatile the sparrow engineering company was !
Thank you again Ausannie for so much great information here, you have really made this post.
Oh, speaking of Sparrow machines still in use here is a Sparrow 16 inch Jointer that I saw the other day as well.
Melbourne Matty.
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23rd February 2016, 08:01 AM #87Senior Member
- Join Date
- Dec 2009
- Location
- Sydney
- Posts
- 249
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23rd February 2016, 08:06 AM #88Senior Member
- Join Date
- Dec 2009
- Location
- Sydney
- Posts
- 249
And pictures to support;
Ezycut bandsaw
Ezycut bandsaw label.docx
Texenco bandsaw tag
Texenco bandsaw tag.docx
A.'Waratah' spring hammer by Hands & Scott c.1911- 20, 'Duffy, Todd & Williams' spring hammer c.1920, Premo lathe- 1953, Premo filing machine.
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23rd February 2016, 08:17 AM #89
I read the impressive list of home grown manufacturers and couldn't help but wonder did any of them get "drafted" into war service making armament or something other than their usual array of machines
Just do it!
Kind regards Rod
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23rd February 2016, 09:20 AM #90
I don' know the extent of "drafting", but I'd be surprised if every single one of them didn't get into war production.
When I started at the Otahuhu Railway Workshops (Auckland, NZ) in 1973, there were plenty of stories of making parts for gun carriages, etc. (admittedly a government owned organisation).
Cheers, Vann.Gatherer of rustyplanestools...
Proud member of the Wadkin Blockhead Club .