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Thread: A New Class of Wadkin PK.
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24th June 2021, 02:23 PM #1
A New Class of Wadkin PK.
In my relentless pursuit of boring Wadkin facts I recent acquired "Batch Lists" for the Wadkin PK, the Wadkin PKF (fixed table version of the PK) and something called a Wadkin PKQ .
PKQ batches.jpg
It looks like they only made two - one ordered in 1958 and the other in 1960 (the last year PKs were made, I believe).
I have no idea what they did to a PK to make it a PKQ? Wallace had a PK with an extra long sliding table - but it was still classified a PK/PKA.
Note that the serial numbers start at #105 .
Cheers, Vann.Gatherer of rustyplanestools...
Proud member of the Wadkin Blockhead Club .
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24th June 2021, 04:26 PM #2
You sure find the obscure ones don’t you?
Q comes after P in the alphabet so maybe they were weird hybrids of a PK and PP.
H.Jimcracks for the rich and/or wealthy. (aka GKB '88)
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24th June 2021, 05:18 PM #3
Dubrosa22 Wants Pictures.
DWP.png
Me too !!!
I've never seen a PKQ. I'd never even heard of one will I got the batch list.
So if you've got pictures for me....
Cheers, Vann.Gatherer of rustyplanestools...
Proud member of the Wadkin Blockhead Club .
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24th June 2021, 06:22 PM #4SENIOR MEMBER
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How weird, maybe a prototype or a special order machine. I have a pk quotation file detailing the various options available. I will check that but I'm sure it doesnt mention 'Q'
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24th June 2021, 06:22 PM #5
Hi H.
Have you still got your red PK - PKA 785?
According to the batch list for PKs it was part of the same batch as my PKA 800. Batch #A 2117, for 24 PKs (PKs 779 to 802) was ordered on 31 October, 1944, and both our machines were built in 1945. Our two are the only ones I've tracked down from that batch.
Did I mention my interest in boring Wadkin facts ?
Cheers, Vann.Gatherer of rustyplanestools...
Proud member of the Wadkin Blockhead Club .
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25th June 2021, 10:03 AM #6
I moved my PK on when I bought a Martin.
It now resides in Canberra in a mate’s workshop.
It still has the wooden fence I cobbled up.
The mate was loaned the leg and extension sliding table from another mate whom I’ve lost contact with.(Dunno if he still has his PK?)
He was also loaned the long fence to suit from a different source.(A furniture maker/designer who’s on the coast, who I must catch up with before one of us croaks).
All this occurred about 30 years ago.
I have a 1945 Wadkin catalogue somewhere in the stash.
H.
ps I didn’t paint it red Mark did that. (Not that I’m complaining my RS10 was blue by me)Jimcracks for the rich and/or wealthy. (aka GKB '88)
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25th June 2021, 10:12 AM #7
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28th June 2021, 09:09 PM #8SENIOR MEMBER
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So were the two 'Q's the last pk's made, are there any more batches afterwards
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29th June 2021, 01:02 AM #9
The first PKQ was ordered in 1958 (21st October). There's no info on when it was completed.
Twelve days later 24 PKs were ordered. Three further batches were ordered for a total of 112 PKs (or 111 PKs and 1 being built as a PKF), the last of these batches being ordered on 23rd October, 1959.
PKA batches2b.jpg
The second PKQ was ordered in December, 1959/January, 1960. That was the last PK/PKF/PKQ ordered - though presumably built alongside the final 40 PKs (which we know were being tested well into 1960*)
* Wadkin Green Lane carried out tests 61865 to 63924 in 1960 = 2060 machines, averaging just over 170 per month. The highest known PK is PK 2276, with test number 62557 = the 693rd test that year - suggesting it was tested early in the 5th month (May, 1960). There are 30 higher numbered PKs for which we have no information - but we do know Wadkin didn't always carry out testing in serial-numerical order.
Note: that PKFs were modified PKs - they were taken at random from existing PK orders. It does not appear that the PKQs were taken from existing PK orders - suggesting they were maybe very different from the standard PK.
Cheers, Vann.
ps More info on the Canadian forum Wadkin PK Generations -
Canadian Woodworking and Home Improvement Forum (editing times are too short here - which doesn't allow updating/correcting of posted info)Gatherer of rustyplanestools...
Proud member of the Wadkin Blockhead Club .
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5th July 2021, 10:56 AM #10
"The first PKQ was ordered in 1958 (21st October). "
Top day that.. my birthday.
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5th July 2021, 11:54 AM #11Gatherer of rusty
planestools...
Proud member of the Wadkin Blockhead Club .