Author Topic: Atlas Vertical Band Saw  (Read 18129 times)

Offline DaveH

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Atlas Vertical Band Saw
« on: July 26, 2011, 01:45:03 PM »

I rescued this about 7/8 years ago.

I was told these were bought for the Aircraft industry here in the late 50’s early 60’s.

New technology came along and they were just left for many years. Much later employees were allowed to take one.

The guy I got it from, got it from a friend of a friend – so didn’t know much about it.

It was in a bit of a sorry state all rusty –no pulleys or main shaft and one of the largest (and heaviest) single phase motor I had ever seen.

A bit of TLC and now I have a great piece of kit.






Had to mod it a little
The gear box was off a broken 6x4 band saw. The motor is off the same only bought new.






I use it for cutting plate –steel and aluminium.
One of these machines you don’t use every day, but real handy to have.
Anyone know anything about them, just from an interest point of view.

DaveH
(Ex Leicester, Thurmaston, Ashby De La Zouch.)

Offline DennisWA

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Re: Atlas Vertical Band Saw
« Reply #1 on: July 26, 2011, 02:13:19 PM »
Dave....Nice restoration  :thumbup:

I can't help with the history of these bandsaws. The Atlas brand is well known.

Cheers

Dennis

Offline dickda1

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Re: Atlas Vertical Band Saw
« Reply #2 on: July 26, 2011, 05:26:52 PM »
Atlas produced a ton of light machine tools during the second world war - in particular, lathes and horizontal mills that were used for one-off operations.  Quite a few have survived to this day.  I used to own a few.  Sears and Montgomery Ward department stores in the States used to market them up till the 1960's

Some of the bandsaws were used to cut steel plate for ships using friction cutting.

Think they were produced as Halifax and Acorntools in the UK later on.

Had a lot of zinc castings, but are study tools with lots of spare parts available.

-Dick
sunny (mostly) San Francisco, land of looney people, sane politics and occasional earthquakes.
Skype: VladTheChemist

Offline 75Plus

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Re: Atlas Vertical Band Saw
« Reply #3 on: July 26, 2011, 08:08:20 PM »
Hi Dave,  I think you will find this site useful.

http://vintagemachinery.org/mfgIndex/detail.aspx?id=51&tab=3

Joe

Offline DaveH

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Re: Atlas Vertical Band Saw
« Reply #4 on: July 26, 2011, 09:18:29 PM »
Hi Joe,

Thanks very much Joe, just what I was hoping for :clap:

A lot of useful and nice things on there. :)

Thanks
DaveH
(Ex Leicester, Thurmaston, Ashby De La Zouch.)

Offline Chazz

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Re: Atlas Vertical Band Saw
« Reply #5 on: July 27, 2011, 02:55:37 PM »
Just guessing, but is it possible, from the Serial number, it was made in the 7th month of 1944?  :scratch:

Cheers,
Chazz
Craftex CT129N Mill & Craftex 9 x 20 CT039 Lathe

Offline DaveH

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Re: Atlas Vertical Band Saw
« Reply #6 on: July 27, 2011, 03:06:32 PM »
Chazz,

Good guess - sadly no cigar this time. :(

Almost a certainly built after 1952 before that it would have been a Power King brand.

 :beer:

DaveH


(Ex Leicester, Thurmaston, Ashby De La Zouch.)

Offline 75Plus

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Re: Atlas Vertical Band Saw
« Reply #7 on: July 27, 2011, 06:12:53 PM »
Chazz,

Good guess - sadly no cigar this time. :(

Almost a certainly built after 1952 before that it would have been a Power King brand.

 :beer:

DaveH


Dave,

The instruction sheet for the 912 band saw has a publication date of May, 1950. That publication shows both Atlas and Power King badges so it appears that they were offering both brands at that time. That said I can find NO correlation between the serial number and the year of manufacture.

Joe



Offline DaveH

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Re: Atlas Vertical Band Saw
« Reply #8 on: July 27, 2011, 06:30:12 PM »
Joe,

Thanks for the correction. :doh:

I read something (somewhere) and probably got it wrong.

It would be nice to know when it was made, even just the year.

 :beer:
DaveH
(Ex Leicester, Thurmaston, Ashby De La Zouch.)

Offline Chuck in E. TN

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Re: Atlas Vertical Band Saw
« Reply #9 on: July 27, 2011, 07:00:11 PM »
I have the same saw. I purchased it off of Craigs List for way too much. It was a mess, had been used to butcher venison and was caked with hair and fat. I wanted it to cut metal.
I spent several hours cleaning it up. I went to the trouble of building a jack shaft to get the speed down. Only problem was, I couldn't find a local source of blades, and am not equiped to make ny own from bulk stock.
I like the idea of using a 4x6 saw gearbox to run it
I have since aquired a good used 4x6  saw, and should probably sell it.

Chuck in E. TN
Chuck in E. TN
Famous TN last words: "Hey ya'll, watch this..."
MicroMark 7x14, HF X2 mill, Green 4x6 saw. Harbor Freight 170A mig

Offline DaveH

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Re: Atlas Vertical Band Saw
« Reply #10 on: July 27, 2011, 07:26:15 PM »
Chuck,

It may be worth enquiring further about the blades.

What I find it really useful for is something like cutting a 6" circle piece out of some 3/8" thick ali' plate.

DaveH
(Ex Leicester, Thurmaston, Ashby De La Zouch.)

Offline Chuck in E. TN

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Re: Atlas Vertical Band Saw
« Reply #11 on: July 27, 2011, 07:44:35 PM »
My 4x6 will do that. It's Hor/Vert. but I need to make a table for it.

Chuck in E. TN
Chuck in E. TN
Famous TN last words: "Hey ya'll, watch this..."
MicroMark 7x14, HF X2 mill, Green 4x6 saw. Harbor Freight 170A mig

Offline SC

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Re: Atlas Vertical Band Saw
« Reply #12 on: July 30, 2011, 06:18:30 PM »
Thank you 75Plus for the outstanding link.

http://vintagemachinery.org/mfgIndex/detail.aspx?id=51&tab=3

The boys at work just finished redoing an Atlas 10 F lathe.

Will endevor to post pics next week.