It is currently 29 Mar 2024, 00:37

Developement of the Wadkin RB Surface Planer.

Here's the place to talk about all your table saws, bandsaws, routers and dust extractors. In fact anything that makes noise and uses electrickery.

Re: Developement of the Wadkin RB Surface Planer.

Postby Vann » 01 May 2021, 23:17

Andyp wrote:Vann, do you think the contents of this thread would be better saved for prosperity in a book?

I don't think I'm up to writing a book (and not sure that more than a dozen copies would sell anyway).

But I enjoy the research and would like it saved in the public domain for future interest - which is why I post it on a forum - rather than somewhere really temporary, like Instantgratification.

Cheers, Vann.
Vann
New Shoots
 
Posts: 223
Joined: 30 Aug 2020, 05:03
Location: Petone, New Zealand
Name:

And the Last.

Postby Vann » 04 May 2021, 12:09

Having found the first Wadkin RB surface planers made, I was curious to find the last. I asked my contact and he came up with this batch list.

RB Batch List1.jpg
(683.23 KiB)
Which indicates that the final RB (from the batch of 48 ordered in January, 1953) was RB 1025. He then checked out the Test Books and found a further four RBs - 1026 to 1029 - presumably made up from leftover parts (I guess they would have made extra parts to allow orders to be completed in the event of some parts being flawed/faulty).

Here's the test sheet for RB 1029. Test 50921, carried out on 23rd January, 1955.

RB 1029 50921 NZ.jpg
(509.43 KiB)
Note that RB 1029 was supplied to "George Henry". George Henry & Co. Ltd. were the Christchurch, New Zealand, agents for Wadkin.

However it appears these final RB surface planers were not tested in order. The final machine to be tested was RB 1016. Here's its test sheet. Test 51235, carried out on 18th March, 1955.

RB 1016 test sheet.jpg
(494.13 KiB)
So Wadkin produced 925 RB surface planers - RB 105 to RB 1029 - over a period of 30 years, with the first one completed on 9th October, 1926 (RB 105) and the last on 18th March, 1955 (RB 1016).

Cheers, Vann.
Vann
New Shoots
 
Posts: 223
Joined: 30 Aug 2020, 05:03
Location: Petone, New Zealand
Name:

Batch List.

Postby Vann » 05 May 2021, 11:32

Having another look at the Batch List.

RB Batch List1.jpg
(683.23 KiB)
The list does not go back to the start of production in 1926, but starts with order "#1257" at the beginning of 1938.

Going by the note in red, it would appear that the first five machine numbers had already been used, and so five new numbers were added at the end.

RB Batch List.jpg
(215.84 KiB)
So the batches were:

A 1257 - RBs 390 to 413 - 24 machines commissioned 14th January, 1938;
A 1315 - RBs 414 to 437 - 24 machines commissioned 3rd November, 1938;
A 1423 - RBs 438 to 461 - 24 machines commissioned 26th June, 1939;
A 1500 - RBs 462 to 485 - 24 machines commissioned 19th October, 1939;
A 2170 - RBs 486 to 509 - 24 machines commissioned 6th March, 1945;
A 2239 - RBs 510 to 533 - 24 machines commissioned 4th September, 1945;
A 2258 - RBs 534 to 557 - 24 machines commissioned 30th October, 1945;
A 2286 - RBs 558 to 593 - 36 machines commissioned 18th December, 1945;
A 2320 - RBs 594 to 629 - 36 machines commissioned 15th February, 1946;
A 2372 - RBs 630 to 701 - 72 machines commissioned 1st August, 1947;
A 2406 - RBs 702 to 749 - 48 machines commissioned 9th January, 1948;
A 2469 - RBs 750 to 797 - 48 machines commissioned 30th November, 1948;
A 2547 - RBs 798 to 833 - 36 machines commissioned 7th February, 1950;
A 2572 - RBs 834 to 905 - 72 machines commissioned 23rd June, 1950;
A 2684 - RBs 906 to 977 - 72 machines commissioned 26th November, 1951; and finally
A 2776 - RBs 978 to 1025 - 48 machines commissioned 28th January, 1953.

It appears resources were diverted from RB production to more important machines - or to war work - during WW2, but then took off with a hiss and a roar through the second half of the 1940s. It also seems they liked to order machines by the dozen - with batches of 2 dozen, 3 dozen, 4 dozen and 6 dozen .

But of more interest (to me anyway) is the likelihood that machines of each batch had the same features. E.g. if one had a new design of fence then all in that batch probably had the new fence design.

Cheers, Vann.
Vann
New Shoots
 
Posts: 223
Joined: 30 Aug 2020, 05:03
Location: Petone, New Zealand
Name:

Batch Match.

Postby Vann » 06 May 2021, 12:08

The next thing is to match the known RBs to batches, as follows:

RB 105, test 4351, of Oct. 1926;
RB 106, test 4355, of Oct. 1926 - New Zealand;
RB 107, test 4357, of Oct. 1926 - New Zealand;
RB 108, test 4358, of Oct. 1926 - New Zealand;
RB 109, test 4359, of Oct. 1926 - New Zealand (RIP in 1987);
RB 110, test 4360, of Oct. 1926 - New Zealand;
RB 111, test 4362, of Oct. 1926 - New Zealand;
RB 112, test 4365, of Oct. 1926 - New Zealand;
RB 113, test 4367, of Oct. 1926 - New Zealand - Wadkin & Co. cast tag;
RB 114, test 4370, of Oct. 1926 - New Zealand;
RB 115, test 4372, of Oct. 1926 - New Zealand;
RB 116, test 4374, of Oct. 1926 - New Zealand - Wadkin & Co. cast tag;
RB 117, test 4375, of Oct. 1926 - New Zealand - Wadkin & Co. cast tag;
RB 118, test 4544, of Dec. 1926;
RB 119, test 4545, of Dec. 1926;
RBA 158, test 8623, of Sept., 1930, - United Kingdom - Wadkin & Co. cast tag;
RBA 183, test 9335, of May, 1931, - United Kingdom - Wadkin & Co. cast tag;
RB 190, test 9407, of June, 1931, - United Kingdom - Wadkin & Co. cast tag;
RB 193, test 9452, of July, 1931, - United Kingdom - Wadkin & Co. cast tag;
RBA 200, test 1493, of Feb. 1932;
RBD 212, test 700, of July, 1932 - United Kingdom - Wadkin & Co. cast tag;
RBV 231, test 1041, of 1932 - United Kingdom - Wadkin & Co. cast tag;
RBV 255, test 2359, of 1934 - United Kingdom - Wadkin & Co. cast tag;
RB 256, test 2360, of 1934 - United Kingdom - Wadkin & Co. cast tag;
RB 263, test 3149, of 1934 - New Zealand - Wadkin & Co. cast tag;
RB 308, test 5098, of March, 1936 - United Kingdom - Wadkin & Co. cast tag;
RB 334, test 6741, of 1937 - New Zealand - Wadkin Ltd. tin tag;
RB 349, test 7634, of Sept., 1937 - United Kingdom - Wadkin Ltd. tin tag;

Batch A 1257 - RBs 390 to 413 - 24 machines commissioned 14th January, 1938:
RBA 399, test 9174, of 1938 - New Zealand - Wadkin Ltd. tin tag;
RB 409, test 9969, of 1938 - United Kingdom - Wadkin Ltd. tin tag;

Batch A 1315 - RBs 414 to 437 - 24 machines commissioned 3rd November, 1938:
RBA 418, test 10699, of 1938 - United Kingdom - Wadkin Ltd. tin tag;
RBA 422, test 11103, of 1938 - United Kingdom - Wadkin Ltd. tin tag;

Batch A 1423 - RBs 438 to 461 - 24 machines commissioned 26th June, 1939:
nil.

Batch A 1500 - RBs 462 to 485 - 24 machines commissioned 19th October, 1939:
RBA 464, test 14604, of 1940 - United Kingdom - Wadkin Ltd. tin tag;
RBA 485, test 19730, of 1943 - United Kingdom - Wadkin Ltd. tin tag;

Batch A 2170 - RBs 486 to 509 - 24 machines commissioned 6th March, 1945:
RBA 497, test 25435, of 1945 - United Kingdom - Wadkin Ltd. tin tag;

Batch A 2239 - RBs 510 to 533 - 24 machines commissioned 4th September, 1945:
RB 512, (test no. unknown) - United Kingdom - Wadkin Ltd. tin tag;
RB 514, test 27050, of 1946 - United Kingdom - Wadkin Ltd. tin tag;
RB 519, test 27047, of 1946 - United Kingdom - Wadkin Ltd. tin tag;

Batch A 2258 - RBs 534 to 557 - 24 machines commissioned 30th October, 1945:
nil.

Batch A 2286 - RBs 558 to 593 - 36 machines commissioned 18th December, 1945:
RB 559, test 29410, of 1947 - United Kingdom - Wadkin Ltd. tin tag;
RB 563, test 29408, of 1947 - United Kingdom - Wadkin Ltd. tin tag;
RB 567, test 29231, of 1947 - New Zealand - Wadkin Ltd. tin tag;

Batch A 2320 - RBs 594 to 629 - 36 machines commissioned 15th February, 1946:
RB 611, test 30332, of 1948 - United Kingdom - Wadkin Ltd. tin tag;
RB 617, test 30369, of 1948 - New Zealand - Wadkin Ltd. tin tag;
RB 620, test 30372, of 1948 - New Zealand - Wadkin Ltd. tin tag;

Batch A 2372 - RBs 630 to 701 - 72 machines commissioned 1st August, 1947:
RB 664, test 32853, of 1949 - United Kingdom - Wadkin Ltd. tin tag;
RBA 666, test 32855, of March 1949 - New Zealand - Wadkin Ltd. tin tag;
RB 677, test 32956, of 1949 - United Kingdom - Wadkin Ltd. tin tag;
RB 697, test 34126, of 1949 - New Zealand - Wadkin Ltd. tin tag;

Batch A 2406 - RBs 702 to 749 - 48 machines commissioned 9th January, 1948:
RB 733, test 35300, of 1949 - Wadkin Ltd. tin tag;
RB 734, test 35301, of 1949 - New Zealand - Wadkin Ltd. tin tag;
RB 745, test 35560, of 1950 - United Kingdom - Wadkin Ltd. tin tag;

Batch A 2469 - RBs 750 to 797 - 48 machines commissioned 30th November, 1948:
RB 763, test 37585, of Sept. 1950 - South Africa - Wadkin Ltd. tin tag;
RB 780, test 37954, of 1950 - United Kingdom - Wadkin Ltd. tin tag;
RB 793, test 38322, of 1950 - United Kingdom - Wadkin Ltd. tin tag;

Batch A 2547 - RBs 798 to 833 - 36 machines commissioned 7th February, 1950:
RB 830, test 39773, of 1951 - United Kingdom - Wadkin Ltd. cast tag;

Batch A 2572 - RBs 834 to 905 - 72 machines commissioned 23rd June, 1950:
RB 839, test 41647, of 1952 - New Zealand - Wadkin Ltd. cast tag;
RB 849, test 41831, of 1952 - New Zealand - Wadkin Ltd. cast tag;
RB 858, test 41973, of 1952 - New Zealand - Wadkin Ltd. cast tag;
RB 876, test 42337, of 1952 - New Zealand - Wadkin Ltd. cast tag;
RB 884, test 42634, of 1952 - New Zealand - Wadkin Ltd. cast tag;
RB 886, test 42636, of 1952 - New Zealand - Wadkin Ltd. cast tag;
RB 893, test 42643, of 1952 - New Zealand - Wadkin Ltd. cast tag;

Batch A 2684 - RBs 906 to 977 - 72 machines commissioned 26th November, 1951:
RB 921, test 45225, of 1953 - New Zealand - Wadkin Ltd. cast tag;
RB 948, test 46022, of 1953 - New Zealand - Wadkin Ltd. cast tag;

Batch A 2776 - RBs 978 to 1025 - 48 machines commissioned 28th January, 1953:
RB 994, test 47891, of 1954 - United Kingdom - Wadkin Ltd. cast tag;
RB 1003, test 50659, of January, 1955 - New Zealand;
RB 1010, test 50380, of 1954 - United Kingdom - Wadkin Ltd. cast tag;
RB 1016, test 51235, of March, 1955;
RB 1024, test 50316, of 1954 - New Zealand - Wadkin Ltd. cast tag;

Stragglers - RBs 1026 to 1029.
RB 1029, test 50921, of January, 1955 - New Zealand.

Next I'd like to itemise features of the known machines within each batch. For example, three machines in the final batch (A 2776) have RD/RM type fences, complete with handwheels for adjustment. RB 921 in the previous batch (A2684) has the RD/RM fence, but without the handwheel. So it appears that only the final 48 machines - and presumably the five "stragglers" - a total of 53 machines, came with the handwheel feature.

Cheers, Vann.

edit: RBA 200, RBA 334, RBA 399, RBs 263, 308, 349, 514, 559, 697, 617, 849, 858, 893, 948 & 1003 added.
Last edited by Vann on 11 May 2023, 00:38, edited 14 times in total.
Vann
New Shoots
 
Posts: 223
Joined: 30 Aug 2020, 05:03
Location: Petone, New Zealand
Name:

Batch A-1257.

Postby Vann » 07 May 2021, 13:40

Starting with the lowest numbered batch on the batch list - so far we have just one machine from this batch.

Batch A 1257 - RBs 390 to 413 - 24 machines commissioned 14th January, 1938:
RBA 399, test 9174, of July, 1938 - New Zealand - Wadkin Ltd. tin tag;
RB 409, test 9969, of December, 1938 - United Kingdom - Wadkin Ltd. tin tag;

RB 409 (and presumably all machines from this batch) has the following features:
- 2nd type of fence;
- 2nd type of handwheels (cast iron knobbed);
- base casting with opening for pushbuttons (no boss); and
- base casting with opening for full size electric control gear door.

RB 409a.jpg
Rear view. Note the 2nd type fence; the 2nd type handwheels; & the size of the door in the base casting (even though this machine is belt driven and therefore has no electrics)
(1.32 MiB)
RB 409br.jpg
Infeed end of base casting. Note the cover over the push-button opening in the base casting.
(1.54 MiB)

Edit: RBA 399 and the following note added.

Note: Because Wadkin used two Test Number sequences during the 1930s I requested information on which sequence these two machines were test in - to be sure I had the correct dates. I received these copies of the original test records:

RBA 399 test.jpg
Tested at Wadkin's Green Lane works on 14th July, 1938.
(924.83 KiB)
RB 409 test.jpg
Tested at Wadkin's Green Lane works on 7th December, 1938.
(949.87 KiB)

Cheers, Vann.
Last edited by Vann on 23 Dec 2021, 07:24, edited 1 time in total.
Vann
New Shoots
 
Posts: 223
Joined: 30 Aug 2020, 05:03
Location: Petone, New Zealand
Name:

Batch A-1315.

Postby Vann » 08 May 2021, 12:57

Of the next batch in the list - I've found two machines.

Batch A 1315 - RBs 414 to 437 - 24 machines commissioned 3rd November, 1938:
RBA 418, test 10699, of 1938 - United Kingdom - Wadkin Ltd. tin tag;
RBA 422, test 11103, of 1938 - United Kingdom - Wadkin Ltd. tin tag;

These two machines appear to have the same features as the previous batch - specifically:
- 2nd type of fence;
- 2nd type of handwheels (cast iron knobbed);
- base casting with opening for pushbuttons (no boss); and
- base casting with opening for full size electric control gear door.

RB 418.
RB 418a.jpg
(1.16 MiB)
RB 418w.jpg
Cast iron knobbed handwheel.
(717.41 KiB)
RB 418c.jpg
Opening in base casting for pushbuttons.
(96.48 KiB)
RB 418br.jpg
Full size electric control gear door (with reset button).
(986.29 KiB)


RB 422 - now owned by Guineafowl.
RB 422gfa.jpg
(1.12 MiB)
RB 422c.jpg
Opening in base casting for pushbuttons (just visible above belt).
(243.64 KiB)
RB 422gfb.jpg
Opening for full size electric control gear door (non-OEM door fitted).
(1.18 MiB)

Cheers, Vann.
Vann
New Shoots
 
Posts: 223
Joined: 30 Aug 2020, 05:03
Location: Petone, New Zealand
Name:

Batch A-1423.

Postby Vann » 09 May 2021, 09:48

The third batch on the Batch List:

Batch A 1423 - RBs 438 to 461 - 24 machines commissioned 26th June, 1939:
nil.

Today's one is easy - I haven't found pictures of any machines from this batch, so there's nothing to see here :eusa-hand:

Cheers, Vann :mrgreen:
Vann
New Shoots
 
Posts: 223
Joined: 30 Aug 2020, 05:03
Location: Petone, New Zealand
Name:

Re: Developement of the Wadkin RB Surface Planer.

Postby clogs » 09 May 2021, 10:41

Vann
just out of interest....does the large gear have it's teeth cast in....
cant really see if they were machines in......
out of interest the badge for Citroen depicts the similar shape or ur gears...
as they were engineers specializing in that kind of gear work before building cars.....
does anyone know any better....?
clogs
Sapling
 
Posts: 258
Joined: 02 Oct 2020, 07:18
Location: Crete, Greece
Name:

Re: Developement of the Wadkin RB Surface Planer.

Postby Guineafowl21 » 09 May 2021, 12:19

clogs wrote:Vann
just out of interest....does the large gear have it's teeth cast in....
cant really see if they were machines in......
out of interest the badge for Citroen depicts the similar shape or ur gears...
as they were engineers specializing in that kind of gear work before building cars.....
does anyone know any better....?

^^^ is this a poem?
Guineafowl21
Sapling
 
Posts: 289
Joined: 15 Dec 2020, 17:11
Location: Inverness
Name:

Re: Developement of the Wadkin RB Surface Planer.

Postby clogs » 09 May 2021, 15:40

really enjoyed the storey...
so much better than train spotting.....
I veiw Wadkin a bit like "Brunell's" bridges.....still working after all these years...

further to my coment on Citroen.....if ur interested.....

https://www.citroenorigins.com.au/en-au ... troen-logo
clogs
Sapling
 
Posts: 258
Joined: 02 Oct 2020, 07:18
Location: Crete, Greece
Name:

Herringbone Gears.

Postby Vann » 10 May 2021, 07:41

clogs wrote:Vann
just out of interest....does the large gear have it's teeth cast in....
cant really see if they were machines in...
That's a good question that I can't answer without taking the top off the gearcase.

It's just got dark here (getting into Winter), and the planer is buried deep in my garage (awaiting further repair work) so I can't/won't go have a look now.

I understand herringbone gears are technically very difficult to machine - so maybe it is cast. If so, it's a very fine casting... :eusa-think:

Cheers, Vann.
Vann
New Shoots
 
Posts: 223
Joined: 30 Aug 2020, 05:03
Location: Petone, New Zealand
Name:

Batch A-1500.

Postby Vann » 10 May 2021, 08:07

And now the fourth batch on the list. I've found two machines from this batch:

Batch A 1500 - RBs 462 to 485 - 24 machines commissioned 19th October, 1939:
RBA 464, test 14604, of 1940 - United Kingdom - Wadkin Ltd. tin tag;
RBA 485, test 19730, of 1943 - United Kingdom - Wadkin Ltd. tin tag;

There's one change from the second batch on the list:
- 2nd type of fence (same as batches A-1257 and A-1315);
- 3rd type of handwheels (cast iron 5-spokes); and
- base casting with opening for pushbuttons (no boss) (same as batches A-1257 and A-1315).

Unfortunately I have no pictures of the back of either machine so I don't know if the base casting electric control gear door has changed.

RB 464 UK.jpg
RBA 464.
(1.01 MiB)
wRBA 464 14604 UK.jpg
(1.47 MiB)

RB 485 UK.jpg
RBA 485.
(838.99 KiB)
wRBA 485 19730 UK.jpg
(1.25 MiB)

Cheers, Vann.
Vann
New Shoots
 
Posts: 223
Joined: 30 Aug 2020, 05:03
Location: Petone, New Zealand
Name:

Batch A-2170.

Postby Vann » 11 May 2021, 10:53

Of the fifth batch on the list I've only found one machine (so far):

Batch A 2170 - RBs 486 to 509 - 24 machines commissioned 6th March, 1945:
RBA 497, test 25435, of 1945 - United Kingdom - Wadkin Ltd. tin tag;

There's one change from the fourth batch on the list:
- 2nd type of fence (same as batches A-1257, A-1315 and A-1500);
- back to 2nd type of handwheels* (cast iron, knobbed); and
- base casting with opening for pushbuttons (no boss) (same as batches A-1257, A-1315 and A-1500).

There was only one picture of the back of the machine, and then only at an awkward angle. It is difficult to tell the type of electric control gear door fitted - but it looks like they may have made the change to the narrower door.

RB 497a.jpg
RBA 497.
(1.01 MiB)
RB 497b.jpg
Note that the pushbuttons appear to be mounted on a 'boss' - but they are on a packer.
(921.23 KiB)
RB 497c.jpg
Cropped view of rear of machine, showing part of the control gear door.
(93.87 KiB)
wRBA 497 25435.jpg
(1.19 MiB)

* Why the change back to knobbed handwheels escapes me. Maybe it was a wartime thing (using what they had available on the previous batch)?

Cheers, Vann.
Vann
New Shoots
 
Posts: 223
Joined: 30 Aug 2020, 05:03
Location: Petone, New Zealand
Name:

Batch A-2239.

Postby Vann » 13 May 2021, 10:40

Now to the sixth batch on the list:

Batch A 2239 - RBs 510 to 533 - 24 machines commissioned 4th September, 1945:
RB 512, (test no. unknown) - United Kingdom - Wadkin Ltd. tin tag;
RB 514, test 27050, of 1946 - United Kingdom - Wadkin Ltd. tin tag;
RB 519, test 27047, of 1946 - United Kingdom - Wadkin Ltd. tin tag;


The first of these, RB 512, I have only one picture - and I only know the serial number because it was listed with the photo.

RB 512a.jpg
RB 512.
(592.55 KiB)

The second machine however came with a number of photos. Here are two (and a tag photo).

RB 519a.jpg
RB 519 - front view.
(1011.04 KiB)
RB 519b.jpg
Outfeed/rear view.
(539.29 KiB)
wRB 519 27047 UK.jpg
(879.67 KiB)

These two machines appear to have the following features:
- 2nd type of fence;
- 2nd type of handwheels (cast iron, knobbed);
- base casting with opening for pushbuttons (no boss); and
- base casting with opening for narrow (and slightly taller) electric control gear door.

Edit: RB 514 added.

Cheers, Vann.
Last edited by Vann on 24 Oct 2022, 08:07, edited 1 time in total.
Vann
New Shoots
 
Posts: 223
Joined: 30 Aug 2020, 05:03
Location: Petone, New Zealand
Name:

Re: Developement of the Wadkin RB Surface Planer.

Postby AJB Temple » 13 May 2021, 19:16

Valuable and interesting resource this. I hope a permanent record is published.

Adrian
Don't like: wood, engines, electrickery, decorating, tiling, laying stone, plumbing, gardening or any kind of DIY. Not wild about spiders either.
User avatar
AJB Temple
Sequoia
 
Posts: 5432
Joined: 15 Apr 2019, 09:04
Name:

Re: Developement of the Wadkin RB Surface Planer.

Postby Vann » 14 May 2021, 02:51

AJB Temple wrote:Valuable and interesting resource this. I hope a permanent record is published.

Thanks. I like to think it has value. But I doubt it's interesting ;) except maybe to a few Wadkin RB owners.

I'm posting it here because I want to make it available to others, and I hope this site will outlive me.

Ah well, back to the grindstone...

Cheers, Vann.
Vann
New Shoots
 
Posts: 223
Joined: 30 Aug 2020, 05:03
Location: Petone, New Zealand
Name:

Batch A-2258.

Postby Vann » 15 May 2021, 10:47

The seventh batch on the Batch List:

Batch A 2258 - RBs 534 to 557 - 24 machines commissioned 30th October, 1945:
nil.

Another one where I haven't found pictures of any machines from the batch.

Cheers, Vann.
Vann
New Shoots
 
Posts: 223
Joined: 30 Aug 2020, 05:03
Location: Petone, New Zealand
Name:

Re: Developement of the Wadkin RB Surface Planer.

Postby Vann » 21 Jul 2021, 07:45

I've been a bit slack lately and haven't progressed this thread in two months. So here we go:

The eighth batch on the Batch List:

Batch A 2286 - RBs 558 to 593 - 36 machines commissioned 18th December, 1945:
- RB 559, test 29410, of 1947 - United Kingdom - Wadkin Ltd. tin tag;
- RB 563, test 29408, of 1947 - United Kingdom - Wadkin Ltd. tin tag;
- RB 567, test 29231, of 1947 - New Zealand - Wadkin Ltd. tin tag.

RB 563a.jpg
RB 563.
(184.59 KiB)
RB 563b.jpg
(194.74 KiB)
RB 563c.jpg
(15.29 KiB)
RB 563d.jpg
(14.41 KiB)

RB 567a.jpg
RB 567.
(1.19 MiB)
RB 567b.jpg
(1.36 MiB)
RB 567c.jpg
(1.29 MiB)


These two machines appear to have the following features:
- 2nd type of fence (same as batches A-1257, A-1315, A-1500 and A-2239);
- re-introduction of 3rd type of handwheels (cast iron, 5-spokes); and
- base casting with opening for narrow (and slightly taller) electric control gear door.

As for the opening in the base casting for pushbuttons - I can't tell. RB 563 appears to have a boss, while RB 567 doesn't (RB 563 may have a packer due to the type of pushbuttons fitted);

Cheers, Vann.
Last edited by Vann on 07 Jan 2023, 08:42, edited 2 times in total.
Vann
New Shoots
 
Posts: 223
Joined: 30 Aug 2020, 05:03
Location: Petone, New Zealand
Name:

Batch A-2320.

Postby Vann » 15 Oct 2021, 09:08

Another three months since I last progressed this thread:

The ninth batch on the Batch List:

Batch A 2320 - RBs 594 to 629 - 36 machines commissioned 15th February, 1946:
- RB 611, test 30332, of 1948 - United Kingdom - Wadkin Ltd. tin tag;
- RB 617, test 30369, of 1948 - New Zealand - Wadkin Ltd. tin tag;
- RB 620, test 30372, of 1948 - New Zealand - Wadkin Ltd. tin tag.

These two machines appear to have the following features:
- 2nd type of fence (same as batches A-1257, A-1315, A-1500, A-2239 and A-2289);
- 3rd type of handwheels - cast iron, 5-spokes (same as batch A-2289);
- base casting with opening in boss for pushbuttons; and
- base casting with opening for narrow (and slightly taller) electric control gear door (same as batch A-2289).

RB 611-12.jpg
(987.19 KiB)
RB 611-10.jpg
Both photos are of RB 611.
(1.03 MiB)


Edit: RB 617 added.

Cheers, Vann.
Last edited by Vann on 31 Mar 2022, 04:40, edited 2 times in total.
Vann
New Shoots
 
Posts: 223
Joined: 30 Aug 2020, 05:03
Location: Petone, New Zealand
Name:

Batch A-2372.

Postby Vann » 16 Oct 2021, 13:40

And the tenth batch on the Batch List:

Batch A 2372 - RBs 630 to 701 - 72 machines commissioned 1st August, 1947:
RB 664, test 32853, of 1949 - United Kingdom - Wadkin Ltd. tin tag;
RBA 666, test 32855, of March 1949 - New Zealand - Wadkin Ltd. tin tag;
RB 677, test 32956, of 1949 - United Kingdom - Wadkin Ltd. tin tag;
RBA 697, test 34126, of 1949 - New Zealand - Wadkin Ltd. tin tag;

These three machines appear to have the same features as the previous batch - as follows:
- 2nd type of fence (same as batches A-1257, A-1315, A-1500, A-2239, A-2289 and A-2320);
- 3rd type of handwheels - cast iron, 5-spokes (same as batches A-2289 and A-2320);
- base casting with opening in boss for pushbuttons (same as batch A-2320); and
- base casting with opening for narrow (and slightly taller) electric control gear door (same as batches A-2289 and A-2320).

Edit: The 4th machine (RB 697) has aluminium handwheels - which appear to have 4 spokes (unlike the standard Wadkin 3-spoke aluminium handwheels). Whether this was an interim change or these are a user mod, I guess we'll never know. There is no view of electric control gear cabinet at the rear of the machine

RB 664.jpg
RB 664.
(1.3 MiB)
RB 664e.jpg
Note the narrow electrical control gear door - RB 664.
(1.14 MiB)
RB 666.jpg
RBA 666
(1.49 MiB)
RB 666e.jpg
Note the narrow electrical control gear door, below those two electrical "boxes" - RBA 666.
(1.56 MiB)
RB 677.jpg
RB 677.
(901.2 KiB)

Edit: RB 697 added 3 Feb 2022.
RB 697a.jpg
RB 697.
(627.47 KiB)

Cheers, Vann.
Last edited by Vann on 02 Feb 2022, 22:53, edited 3 times in total.
Vann
New Shoots
 
Posts: 223
Joined: 30 Aug 2020, 05:03
Location: Petone, New Zealand
Name:

Re: Developement of the Wadkin RB Surface Planer.

Postby clogs » 16 Oct 2021, 16:20

Vann,
do u dream of these machines.....?
I can only imagine a nightmare of one at the breaker/scrap yard.....
I wonder how many had that fate.....?

I had a very old and heavy planer thicknesser, seem to remember it was either 18 or 20 cutting width and about 10" depth.....factory paint....a very dirty battleship grey.....
not sure if I have any photos....
sure wish I had it now along with all the other Wadkin stuff I had to sell.....grrrrrrrr.....
all that didn't sell was an 6 or 8" surface planer....much newer than ur RB's.....

it's here in Crete waiting for daylight......

thanks again for ur interesting subject.....
are u gonna do one on saw's or spindles......hahaha...
just kidding....
clogs
Sapling
 
Posts: 258
Joined: 02 Oct 2020, 07:18
Location: Crete, Greece
Name:

Re: Developement of the Wadkin RB Surface Planer.

Postby Vann » 17 Oct 2021, 09:00

clogs wrote:Vann,
do u dream of these machines...

Yes :oops:

clogs wrote:...are u gonna do one on saw's or spindles......hahaha...

Wot, you're not suffering enough already :eusa-shifty: ? There's a thread on the Canadian forum on Wadkin PK dimension saws. Wallace started it, but I'm busy boring the Canadians to death with minute detail...
https://forum.canadianwoodworking.com/f ... enerations

Cheers, Vann - the Wadkin Anorak (apparently ;) ).
Vann
New Shoots
 
Posts: 223
Joined: 30 Aug 2020, 05:03
Location: Petone, New Zealand
Name:

Batch A-2406.

Postby Vann » 17 Oct 2021, 09:32

The eleventh batch on the Batch List:

Batch A 2406 - RBs 702 to 749 - 48 machines commissioned 9th January, 1948:
RB 733, test 35300, of 1949 - Wadkin Ltd. tin tag;
RB 734, test 35301, of 1949 - New Zealand - Wadkin Ltd. tin tag;
RB 745, test 35560, of 1950 - United Kingdom - Wadkin Ltd. tin tag;

RB 745.jpg
RB 745.
(1.18 MiB)
RB 745e.jpg
(1.36 MiB)

I don't have much info on this batch - no photos of the first two machines. The one in the pictures seems to have an odd fence - note the right angle corner where the bottom steps up to clear cutter and outfeed table. I think this fence is not OEM.

I also can't tell whether the handwheels are 5-spoke cast-iron (like the last batch) or 3-spoke aluminium (like the next batch). However this machines appears to have:
- base casting with opening in boss for pushbuttons (same as batches A-2320 and A-2372); and
- base casting with opening for narrow (and slightly taller) electric control gear door (same as batches A-2289, A-2320 and A-2372).

Cheers, Vann.
Last edited by Vann on 17 Oct 2021, 15:47, edited 1 time in total.
Vann
New Shoots
 
Posts: 223
Joined: 30 Aug 2020, 05:03
Location: Petone, New Zealand
Name:

Re: Developement of the Wadkin RB Surface Planer.

Postby 9fingers » 17 Oct 2021, 11:13

Some of us do worry about you at times Vann! I realise you had longer lockdown time in NZ than many of us and there are an awful lot of sheep around but do try and get out a bit now and then! :lol: :lol:

Bob
Information on induction motors here
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dBTVXx ... sp=sharing
Email:motors@minchin.org.uk
User avatar
9fingers
Petrified Pine
 
Posts: 10038
Joined: 21 Jul 2014, 20:22
Location: Romsey Hampshire between Southampton and the New Forest
Name: Bob

Re: Developement of the Wadkin RB Surface Planer.

Postby wallace » 19 Oct 2021, 08:52

That fence is the same as the one on my MJ and very similar to one the one on the FM I'm rebuilding at the moment
wallace
Nordic Pine
 
Posts: 948
Joined: 17 Aug 2014, 19:12
Name:

PreviousNext

Return to Machines & Power Toolery

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 17 guests