LumberJocks Woodworking Forum banner

Age of Rockwell jointer?

11K views 16 replies 12 participants last post by  MrUnix 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
Previously I had asked about advice on changing the knives on this jointer. I got some good tips, but still haven't gotten the knives out. They are pretty well stuck, and I really don't think they have ever been changed. That led me to wonder how old this dude is. I am guessing it at around 50 years but have not been able to find a serial number anywhere. I thought maybe someone could give me a rough estimate based on a picture. At this point I am thinking about replacing the entire cutterhead and bearings and anything else I get into that doesn't look to good. This jointer was owned most of its life by a lumberyard that recently went out of business. I bought it from a guy who got it from the lumberyard. Evidently he just cleaned and painted it and sold it to me for $100. I don't think it has ever had any real maintenance. It really doesn't matter much how old it is, I'm just curious. Thanks!
Wood Gas Machine tool Machine Fixture
 

Attachments

See less See more
2
#5 ·
Jason - Your 37-220 was made between 1964-65 and 1972. Prior to 64-65 the base they used was the deco style base (not sure exactly which year they changed). Starting in 1973 the logo was changed to the Rockwell "peace sign" logo. If you find the serial number it can be narrowed down to the exact year it was made.
 
#6 ·
Holbs- The bolts holding the knives in the cutter head will not turn for nothing. I haven't tried to get the cutter head out yet.
tefinn- I did not know what model it was, it doesn't seem to have a tag on it anywhere. I'm hoping the 220 part isn't about voltage because it had a 110 plug on it when I bought it and thats what I've been running it on.
 
#7 ·
That is a good looking machine, I've always liked and end mounted fence on a jointer. I'm sure you've already use a penetrating oil on the bolts so I won't suggest that but have you tried using an impact drill driver on it. That might do the job, they work wonders on seized up lug nuts.
 
#13 · (Edited by Moderator)
Good looking machine. Even if you have to buy a new head I thing you did good for $100. Lol
If you can pull the head and can't get the screws out perhaps a machine shop and bore them out and retap the holes. At that point upgrading to the $400 head that was mentioned above might be comparable
 
#14 ·
Use the table below
Delta S/N
The Bellefountaine Years:¶
Year From To
1953 105-4005 - 110-9975
1954 110-9976 - 113-9613
1955 113-9614 - 116-5949
1956 116-5950 - 119-2146
1957 119-2147 - 122-5236
1958 122-5237 - 123-5059
1959 123-5060 - 125-9707
1960 125-9708 - 127-9999
1961 128-0000 - 130-2719
1962 130-2720 - 132-5000
1963 132-5001 - 133-9999
1964 134-0000 - 137-0050
1965 137-0064 - 139-4000
1966 139-4001 - 142-1689
1967 142-1690 - 145-4999
1968 145-5000 - 147-2525
1969 147-2595 - 149-8401
1970 149-8402 - 151-8000
1971 151-8001 - 153-2122
1972 153-2123 - 155-4449
1973 155-4450 - 158-4000
1974 158-4001 - 162-9999
1975 163-0000 - 165-9753
1976 165-9754 - 170-3633
1977 170-3634 - 173-5804
1978 173-5805 - 176-4910
1979 176-4911 - 178-8779
1980 178-8780 - 180-7331
1981 180-7331 - 181-7764
1982 181-7765 - 182-1042

Alpha-Numeric Series Used By Tupelo Division:¶
Year From To
1951 AA-100 - AB-7478
1952 AA-7480 - AJ-2774
1953 AJ-2775 - AX-9470
1954 AX-9471 - BE-4906
1955 BE-4907 - BL-9999
1956 BM-100 - BO-9822
1957 BO-9823 - BU-8750
1958 BU-8751 - CC-6620
1959 CC-6621 - CK-4072
1960 CK-4073 - CO-9632
1961 CO-9066 - CU-4299
1962 CU-4300 - CK-9999
1963 CY-0001 - DB-5000
1964 DB-5001 - DG-1009
1965 DG-1010 - DK-5917
1966 DK-5918 - DO-4783
1967 DO-4784 - DS-9452
1968 DS-9453 - EF-9399
1969 EG-100 - EI-208
1970 EI-209 - EP-5295
1971 EP-5400 - EW-236
1972 EW-237 - FI-311
1973 FI-312 - GA-782
1974 GA-783 - GZ-2477
1975 GZ-2478 - HR-6058
1976 HR-3059 - IQ-9999
1977 IR-0001 - JW-9999
1978 JX-100 - KP-9725
1978 LW-103 - LW-9999
1979 KP-9726 - LD-5594
1979 LV-100 - LV-9999
1979 LX-100 - LX-9999
1979 LY-100 - MB-5699
1980 LD-5595 - LH-9326
1981 LH-9327 - LN-9999
1982 LO-100 - LO-9999
1982 MB-5700 - MC-7110
Letter prefixes: LP, LQ, LR, LS, LT, and LU were not used.
Letter prefixes: MJ, MK, ML, MM, MN, MO, MP, NA, and NB range in years 1979 through 1982, but we do not have information to tie these to a year of manufacture
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top