Serial Number and Charles E. Wright Mark.
| "Famous" No. 1 |
| 32" Band Saw |
Restoration of the Upper Blade Guide
The upper blade guide on this saw is an interesting one. At first it was not known exactly what type of guide it was. Upon disassembly and cleaning a serial number 10661 was found stamped into one of the pieces. Upon closer inspection, the name "Chas. E. Wright M.F. Waterbury CT" was found just under the serial number.
Charles E. Wright Co.
Some research was conducted on the Charles E. Wright Co. The initial information found indicated that Wright was first located in New Orange NJ, then in Kenilworth NJ when the name of the town was changed. No mention was made of Waterbury, CT. Further investigation indicated several patents were issued to Charles E. Wright of Waterbury CT, all in the 1890's. After some conversations with the historian at the Old Wood Working Machines web site, we were able to determine that in 1892, the Cross and Speirs Machine Co. was founded at 31 Canal St. in Waterbury, CT. with Charles Everett Wright as the secretary. The 1892 Waterbury City Business Directory lists Charles E. Wright with the note to see Cross and Speirs. The 1893 directory lists Charles E. Wright as a machinist making bandsaw tools at 31 Canal St (the same location as Cross & Speirs). Wright is listed in each of the Waterbury city directories from 1893 - 1900. There is no directory available for 1901, but Wright is not listed in the 1902 directory.
The March 1901 issue of "Building Age" has some additional information on Charles Wright: "Charles E. Wright Company, manufacturers of special band sawing machinery, have removed their establishment to New Orange, N. J., where with newly improved machinery and ample accomodations for handling the special line of product, they are in a better position than ever before for making prompt delivery and also for maintaining the high standard of excellence of their machinery. We understand that the New York and Waterbury offices will be retained and that all orders should be addressed to the factory at New Orange, N. J."
Based on this information, the upper blade guide on this saw was manufactured by the Charles E. Wright Co. of Waterbury, CT sometime between 1893 and 1901.
Restoration
The restoration of this blade guide was pretty straight forward. All of the metal pieces were glass beaded, primed and painted in a black simi-flat paint. The wear blocks were not very worn, so it was decided to leave them as they are for now. All of the knobs were re-nickel plated.
Guide Wheel
The guide wheel had some groves worn into it. Unlike the lower guide wheel, this one did not seem to be hardened. The wheel was chucked in a lathe and several very light cuts were made - just enough to clean up the surface.Guide Wheel Bushing
The guide wheel bushing on this guide was simply a steel housing. There was no bronze bushing and no method for oiling it. The decision was made to fabricate a new bushing out of bearing bronze. Due to the size of the shaft and the hole the bushing needed to fit into in the guide, it was decided not to make a steel housing with the bushing inside, but to simply machine the OD of the bushing to fit the hole in the guide and to eliminate the steel housing. The rear of this bushing will be drilled and tapped for a Model T Ford generator oiler.
Reassembly
After each of the pieces were restored, the blade guide was reassembled.
