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USS Ronald Reagan
The USS Ronald Reagan?
Why call this Witherby, Ruggs, Richardson 18 inch
jointer the USS Ronald Reagan?
Well to me the machine has the shape of an aircraft
carrier, and the top is certainly big enough to land
planes upon so the idea of calling it an aircraft
carrier kind of stuck.
As for the name, well the USS Ronald Regan was
the last aircraft carrier built by the US Navy and as a
strong, strong Republican, I always admired the
mans charm, charisma and conscience. So that is
why I named this beats of a machine, the USS
Ronald Regan.
Why call this Witherby, Ruggs, Richardson 18 inch
jointer the USS Ronald Reagan?
Well to me the machine has the shape of an aircraft
carrier, and the top is certainly big enough to land
planes upon so the idea of calling it an aircraft
carrier kind of stuck.
As for the name, well the USS Ronald Regan was
the last aircraft carrier built by the US Navy and as a
strong, strong Republican, I always admired the
mans charm, charisma and conscience. So that is
why I named this beats of a machine, the USS
Ronald Regan.
How I aquired this machine...
I first saw this machine at Elmers Barn in Coopers
Mills, Maine. The owner is not an antique
woodworking machinery store by any means, but
this old machine was set off into the weeds.
Personally I thought his prices for general antiques
were high, so I felt this machine would be as well.
A week later I returned to the antiques barn in hopes
of getting some pictures of the large jointer and
putting them online. It was then that I asked about
the price.
When he said 100 dollars, I knew I had to buy it. A
few hours later we loaded it up and I took it home.
I first saw this machine at Elmers Barn in Coopers
Mills, Maine. The owner is not an antique
woodworking machinery store by any means, but
this old machine was set off into the weeds.
Personally I thought his prices for general antiques
were high, so I felt this machine would be as well.
A week later I returned to the antiques barn in hopes
of getting some pictures of the large jointer and
putting them online. It was then that I asked about
the price.
When he said 100 dollars, I knew I had to buy it. A
few hours later we loaded it up and I took it home.
Mechanical Shape:
At first I thought this machine would require a long
rebuild. It had babbitt bearings that appeared to be
seized. Upon further inspection however, the babbitt
bearings were fine and freed up with just oil.
The dovetail ways were also in working order and
the machine came complete with extension tables,
a fence system, a cutterhead that included knives
and a whole lot of rusty cast iron.
Formerly designed for line shaft operation, this
machine lacks an electrical motor. Currently I plan to
install a 3 horsepower electric motor to drive the
cutterhead.
At first I thought this machine would require a long
rebuild. It had babbitt bearings that appeared to be
seized. Upon further inspection however, the babbitt
bearings were fine and freed up with just oil.
The dovetail ways were also in working order and
the machine came complete with extension tables,
a fence system, a cutterhead that included knives
and a whole lot of rusty cast iron.
Formerly designed for line shaft operation, this
machine lacks an electrical motor. Currently I plan to
install a 3 horsepower electric motor to drive the
cutterhead.
Rebuild Plan:
My current rebuild plan is to:
My current rebuild plan is to:
- Clean everything of rust and dirt
- Lubricate the dovetailed ways of both the
infeed and outfeed tables - Sharpen the knives
- Purchase a used or new 3 horsepower
motor - Bolt the fence system down permanently
- Refabricate the leather seals of the babbitt
bearings - Install wicks for the babbitt bearings
- Scrape and repaint the machine
Paint:
Its generaly not a good practice to scrape and paint
an old piece of woodworking machinery, but in this
case I felt the machine had already been painted
several times and thus one more time would not
hurt.
I used a white paint as I had a quart of it on hand
and felt that white paint was probably what the
orginal machine came with. I am pleased with how
the finished machine looks, even though I am not a
pianter by any means.
It has two coats of White Rustoleum applied in the
hopes that it will prevent future rusting.
Its generaly not a good practice to scrape and paint
an old piece of woodworking machinery, but in this
case I felt the machine had already been painted
several times and thus one more time would not
hurt.
I used a white paint as I had a quart of it on hand
and felt that white paint was probably what the
orginal machine came with. I am pleased with how
the finished machine looks, even though I am not a
pianter by any means.
It has two coats of White Rustoleum applied in the
hopes that it will prevent future rusting.
History:
As I continued to work on this machine, I also
researched its history. According to the US patent
office, the Witherby/ Ruggs/ Richardson company
never applied for a patent for a jointer. It had several
though concerning planers, mortising machines
and tennon cutters.
All patents were applied for between 1861 and
1885. It can be concluded that the company was in
business during these years and that this jointer is
between 121 and 145 years old.
Material used in the babbitt bearings indicates that
this machine last had its babbitt bearings rebuilt in
1938.
As I continued to work on this machine, I also
researched its history. According to the US patent
office, the Witherby/ Ruggs/ Richardson company
never applied for a patent for a jointer. It had several
though concerning planers, mortising machines
and tennon cutters.
All patents were applied for between 1861 and
1885. It can be concluded that the company was in
business during these years and that this jointer is
between 121 and 145 years old.
Material used in the babbitt bearings indicates that
this machine last had its babbitt bearings rebuilt in
1938.
