Interesting shaper

[Scimonetti]

Just spotted this on the local CL. Guy claims it's a craftsman and $75. I'm not looking to buy, but In some basic research I can't find any like it.

It looks like it says SKF but still never heard of them except for bearings

Anybody seen one like it before?

 

[bdk1976]

I have a similar one with the skf sticker. I believe it's from the mid to late 30s. I think the skf sticker does indeed refer to the type of bearing used in the construction of the machine.

 

[rippered]

http://vintagemachinery.org/mfgindex/detail.aspx?id=222&tab=4

 

[zkling]

Late 30's, IIRC walker turner made those for craftsman. Yes back in the day, even up till the 60's SKF and Timken used a large label on machines to indicate their ball bearings were used in the construction.

 

[rancherbill]

I took a look at the Vintage Machinery link. I did not look at all of them, but I sort of looks like some of the Atlas shapers. SKF would be on the machine showing a premium feature. They probably had roller and taper bearings on this model vs. bushing or babbet bearings that were common back then.

 

[MBfreak]

Hi.
To the best of my knowledge, SKF never made any kind of woodworking machinery that was sold. Further, I have nevers seen drillpresses, lathes or the like made by SKF.
The main business of SKF was and is bearings, taps/dies, some broaches and drillbits. They also make every type of bearing puller that you can think of. Have oogled some for years, they are fabulous but totatlly off budget for me.

When going thru college I worked one summer at the SKF factory in Hofors here in Sweden. Absolutely faboulous place, quality was the keyword for everything.

Ola

 

[jakemac]

In the 40's and 50's (possibly early 60's), Craftsman would put an SKF decal on some of their tools to highlight that they were using top of the line bearings in their tools. My 1941/2 drill press had one.

Images of the SKF decals can be found on the Craftsman Decal page at VintageMachiery.org. Here -
http://wiki.vintagemachinery.org/Decals-Craftsman.ashx

The decal leads me to believe that the shaper is indeed a Craftsman model. The belt cover over the motor looks homemade to me though.