Delta Table saw. What's it worth?

[BuffettFan]

I've had little time to even look at this thing since I brought it home, but needed to move it yesterday to make room for the wife's car.
I looked for a tag with the s/n but didn't see one mounted to the outside of the cabinet or sides/back of the table.
Any clues as to what to look for to try to date this thing further?
Not that it matters, but now I'm curious!

 

[BuffettFan]

Finally took the time to add an outlet so I could power the saw up today.
Decided to add a distribution panel instead of rewiring the saw for 110v.
Runs smooth and quiet, just like you'd expect.
Definitely need to get a mobile base for it.
Now to get it cleaned and tuned up.

 

[Miss the Pontiacs]

Nice saw. Good choice on staying with the 220/240 volt power supply.

 

[Roberts210]

The serial number should be on an aluminum tag. Here's one from a '66 Unisaw.

 

[BuffettFan]

Where on the saw is that tag?
I've looked the thing over and haven't found a s/n yet?
Really curious to its age.

 

[Bigblockyeti]

Mine was on the back to edge of the table between the two miter slots.

 

[C lectric]

Nice find and it looks like excellent condition. Price is great. I paid a bunch more for mine 35 yrs ago so you got a DEAL.

Funny, they did move those tags around. My approx '66/65 is just behind the blade up/down handwheel at the front of the saw.

I bought mine from the co. I used to work for about 35 yrs ago. I operated it, along with others, for about 15 yrs. before that. It saw a lot of work. Yet the thing is still in good shape. The motor bearings have been replaced and I think it will be done soon again. But, like me it is in retardedment.

Mine is grey. THe motor is a 1.5HP single ph.

The fence supplied is still in use as is the angle guide. Yeah, I forgot the actual term.

True the table up to the blade using a dial indicator using the slots and a pice of cold rolled 3/8 x 3/4 steel. Then true up the 90o blade adjustment. THey may be off a bit as I have had to redo mine from time to time. When those are done the machine will do a good, accurate job for you.

Enjoy it.

 

[Roberts210]

.........Funny, they did move those tags around. My approx '66/65 is just behind the blade up/down handwheel at the front of the saw........

That's where mine is too.

 

[Honest Bob]

Nice score! Those go for $800 in my area.

 

[bubinga]

I have a chance to pick up this old Delta saw.
Asking $300.
What's it worth? I know nothing about it other than it ran when disconnected, the bearings feel smooth and tight and the fence is decent.

Can't power it up, shop is in the process of moving.
View media item 95582

What is the saying here?
RUN, DON'T WALK!!!
Worse case, just saying,
As stated, I bet you could get $300.00 for the motor cover alone.
When I got mine, it had the same fence, but I had an Beismier that I had got lucky, and found one when Lowes was blowing then out for $80,00, I had been sitting on it for a while, but the "Align-A-Rip" fence that was on my craftsman was doing me OK, so I ended up just using the Craftsman
113.XXXX (with stamped steel wings) till I got the Unisaw.
(Oh, then I turned around and sold the "JetoLoc" fence for $100.00!!)
$300.00 is WELL WORTH IT!! EDIT A guy could probably get $200 for the cast iron extension wings)
You can build a Static phase converter, with an old 3 phase motor, and some capacitors, or get yourself a VFD for about $100.00 or less.
Even if you have to get a Phase converter, or another motor, IMO, It's still well worth it.
Heck, like I said, you could Probably easily DOUBLE YOUR MONEY parting it out, if worse came to worse.
For all I know, you may have already brought it, I have yet to read the rest of the thread.
Bests Of luck with it if you do get it!

 

[bubinga]

Post above mine said "Good score"! so I take it you got it,
Did you determine the year?

 

[acer66]

As said $300 is nothing for that saw and the art deco delta sign puts it in the 40-50 range afaik.

 

[BuffettFan]

Depending on age, the serial number can be on the tilt scale, the back of the cabinet or the edge of the table ( also at the back).
-James Huston

View media item 99723
I think we may have a winner.
Off to OWWM website to see if I can track it down.

 

[txlonghorn1989]

BuffettFan, you'll get all the help you need at OWWM. Post your machine and your questions in the Old Woodworking Machines forum. They can probably give you a reasonable idea of it's age even with the serial # badge missing. They'll also be able to offer any tips/guidance if you need it on restoring or using 3PH power. I know someone above mentioned parting it out but I hope you don't do that. You've got a great table saw there that can last many more generations. Good luck and keep us posted!

 

[bubinga]

I think we may have a winner.
Off to OWWM website to see if I can track it down.

Yeah, that's Nice, I can't stay focused, didn't read the rest O the thread,
Is it indeed single phase?

 

[BuffettFan]

txlonghorn, bubinga,
no plans to part it out. It is single phase.
I used it last night for the first time, ironically ripping some pieces for the Harbor Freight mobile base I picked up for it.
The base required 1.25" square lumber for the rails so I took some 3/4" and 1/2" stock, glued them together and then ripped them to 1.25" width.
Now I just have to get the saw raised to get the base underneath.

 

[bubinga]

txlonghorn, bubinga,
no plans to part it out. It is single phase.
I used it last night for the first time, ironically ripping some pieces for the Harbor Freight mobile base I picked up for it.
The base required 1.25" square lumber for the rails so I took some 3/4" and 1/2" stock, glued them together and then ripped them to 1.25" width.
Now I just have to get the saw raised to get the base underneath.

oh yeah, i'd hate to see it parted out too. i was just saying money wise, its well worth it.

is that the 220 volt 1 HP "Bullet motor" with the brushes?
I have that Harbor Freight base on My Powermatic sander, it's pretty nice.

 

[bubinga]

nice machine. What's with the big piece of glass on it?
100% agreed with marctrees, even if it's 3-phase, it's worth every penny of that $300.

yep!!

 

[bubinga]

forget what they call the motor cover, bullet or egg or something, but I believe the cover alone is worth a couple bills. check out OWWM.org those old uni's have quite the following.

Goose Egg!.......lol

 

[bubinga]

I haven't had a chance to look for a different s/n in any of the locations James suggested but when I took the check to pay for it they said that I had made it out for the wrong amount.
They had changed the asking price.
The "Get it out of here today" price was $250.
I'll take them another check tomorrow.

Awe Man, Better yet, Less (money) is best

 

[bubinga]

Finally took the time to add an outlet so I could power the saw up today.
Decided to add a distribution panel instead of rewiring the saw for 110v.
Runs smooth and quiet, just like you'd expect.
Definitely need to get a mobile base for it.
Now to get it cleaned and tuned up.

Yeah, I would have stayed with 220 too if I could have.
Even though that looks to not pull too too much even at 110.
She'll maybe come up to speed a little easier, if nothing else.
I should actually look at mine, It was wired for 220 when I brought it, I just assumed it was 220 only, but now that I see yours, mine might be 110/220
I never even looked at the data plate. The PO said it was 1 HP.
I think I just assumed it was 220 only.
Mine is currently collecting dust with the Mice and Fleas in the basement,
I might try to drag it up here, if It is 110.

 

[bubinga]

The serial number should be on an aluminum tag. Here's one from a '66 Unisaw.

Where on the saw is that tag?
I've looked the thing over and haven't found a s/n yet?
Really curious to its age.

Mine was on the back to edge of the table between the two miter slots.

Yep, that's the Tag, someone may have taken it off for some reason,
Mine is a 1947 BTY

 

[shumphrey1989]

Nice find. I found a 63' vintage a couple years a go from a shop going out of business. Didn't include the the goose egg motor cover, but everything else was intact for $200. The jet fence worked fine but slapped on a Biesemeyer (NOS a guy had laying around from when Lowes cleared out their stock in 07'). Had to wet sand the table with kerosene due to 50+ years of abuse as well.

 

[bubinga]

Just for a reference here are a couple of pics of my motor plate and the serial # plate on my '47 Unisaw. If you find your serial # an email to Delta's customer service will generally result in them telling you the month & year of manufacture and the plant where your machine was built. With the serial # you can also figure it out from the list of Delta serial #s at vintagemachinery.org. Vintage Machinery is referred to as the mothership at OWWM (and OMWM - Old MetalWorking Machines). Good luck!

Edit: FYI, the motor plate and serial # plate on my saw have not be restored. This is the condition as I received the saw. I bought it from the son of the original owner who bought it new in 1947. His dad has passed away the year before and according to the son was still using it up to a year of his death. The son was around my age - old! ;-) The original owner did spray paint the exterior that blue but I'm not complaining.

Yeah, I would have stayed with 220 too if I could have.
Even though that looks to not pull too too much even at 110.
She'll maybe come up to speed a little easier, if nothing else.
I should actually look at mine, It was wired for 220 when I brought it, I just assumed it was 220 only, but now that I see yours, mine might be 110/220
I never even looked at the data plate. The PO said it was 1 HP.
I think I just assumed it was 220 only.
Mine is currently collecting dust with the Mice and Fleas in the basement,
I might try to drag it up here, if It is 110.

Mine is a 47 too, So I'll Bet mine is able to be wired for 110 Or 220

 

[Keep]

Not sure if you got that thick slab of glass along with the saw, but those are usually "float glass" and its dead flat used for sharpening. Worth a pretty good penny its in good shape.

Oh and damn nice find on the saw!

 

[bubinga]

Not sure if you got that thick slab of glass along with the saw, but those are usually "float glass" and its dead flat used for sharpening. Worth a pretty good penny its in good shape.

Oh and damn nice find on the saw!

Funny, I was thinking the same thing when I 1st. saw it the other day.

 

[BuffettFan]

Didn't get the glass.
Not sure what became of it. There was roughly 50 years of accumulation in that shop, lots of it got tossed, lots of it are in the new space still waiting to be unpacked.
Don't remember if I posted it yet, but from info gathered on the OWWM site, it looks like the saw is 1939 or 1940 vintage. Still looking for definitive confirmation.