Development of the Wadkin RB Surface Planer.

[Vann]

Here are three more RB surface planers:

RBA 158.

RBA 190.

RB 190.

Like the first machines, all three have the early Main Casting with arch, the first style of Fence. They also have the early base casting with arch opening front and back, and no provision for electrical switchgear.

However they have the longer (5' overall) tables, and the table adjustment handles are the second style (knobbed cast iron knobs).

All three are located in the UK.

Cheers, Vann.

 

[Vann]

The next RB in my photo collection is Guineafowl21's RBD 212 - already shown on the previous page

...As you may remember, I have an RBD (DC machine, but with a replacement 3ph AC motor)...

RBD 212 (Test 700), of July, 1932.
It shares most of the features of the previous three - except for a change to the second type of fence.


This change eliminates the dovetail groove in the infeed table - and possibly involves a change to the landing at the back of the infeed table for mounting the new fence bracket.

Cheers, Vann

 

[Mike G]

My goodness, that is a thing of beauty, Guineafowl21.

 

[Guineafowl21]

My goodness, that is a thing of beauty, Guineafowl21.

:text-+1: 1932, so there’s a hint of the Victorian era about it, when even mundane items like lamp posts were given curly brackets, fair curves and finials. It’s still in regular use, and planes the wood so flat there’s a slight suction to the out feed table.

The fence bracket locates on two dowels and two bolts. The sliding rod means it sits quite far away from the wall, so the dovetail design may have been preferable, but at least you can hang things like clamps behind it.

 

[Vann]

...The fence bracket locates on two dowels and two bolts. The sliding rod means it sits quite far away from the wall, so the dovetail design may have been preferable, but at least you can hang things like clamps behind it.

I'd have thought you'd have poked a hole through the wall :eusa-naughty:

I know a guy who has two Wadkin CC radial arm saws. Those things take up a lot of space. He's knocked a hole through the end wall of his workshop and built a protruding box on the outside. When retracted, the end of the sliding carriages sits half a metre or more outside of the wall line. Very effective (but not very practical if your neighbours garage is on the other side of the wall) :shock: .

Cheers, Vann.

 

[Vann]

To cut to the chase, here's the full list of the 51 Wadkin RB surface planers I've found photos of (or reliable information on) so far.

Edit: now 67 machines with the addition of RBA 200, RB 263, RB 308, RBA 334, RBA 399, RBA 422, RB 514, RB 559, RB 664, RB 697, RB 780, RB 849, RB 858, RB 893, RB 948 & RB 1003.

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. 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. tag;
RB 117, test 4375, of Oct. 1926 - New Zealand - Wadkin & Co. 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. tag;
RBA 183, test 9335, of May, 1931, - United Kingdom - Wadkin & Co. tag;
RB 190, test 9407, of June, 1931, - United Kingdom - Wadkin & Co. tag;
RB 193, test 9452, of July, 1931, - United Kingdom - Wadkin & Co. tag;
RBA 200, test 1493, of February, 1932;
RBD 212, test 700, of July, 1932 - United Kingdom - Wadkin & Co. tag;
RBV 231, test 1041, of 1932 - United Kingdom - Wadkin & Co. tag;
RBV 255, test 2359, of 1934 - United Kingdom - Wadkin & Co. tag;
RB 256, test 2360, of 1934 - United Kingdom - Wadkin & Co. tag;
RB 263, test 3149, of 1934 - New Zealand - Wadkin & Co. tag;
RB 308, test 5098, of pre-1936? - United Kingdom - Wadkin & Co. tag;
RBA 334, test 6741, of 1937 - New Zealand - Wadkin Ltd. tin tag;
RBA 399, test 9174, of 1938 - New Zealand - Wadkin Ltd. tin tag;
RB 409, test 9969, of 1938 - United Kingdom - Wadkin Ltd. tin tag;
RBA 418, test 10699, of 1938 - United Kingdom - Wadkin Ltd. tin tag;
RBA 422, test 11103, of 1938 - United Kingdom - Wadkin Ltd. tin tag;
RBA 464, test 14604, of 1940 - United Kingdom - Wadkin Ltd. tin tag;
RBA 485, test 19730, of 1943 - United Kingdom - Wadkin Ltd. tin tag;
RBA 497, test 25435, of 1945 - United Kingdom - Wadkin Ltd. tin tag;
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;
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 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;
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;
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 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;
RB 830, test 39773, of 1951 - United Kingdom - Wadkin Ltd. cast tag;
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;
RB 921, test 45225, of 1953 - New Zealand - Wadkin Ltd. cast tag;
RB 948, test 46022, of 1953 - New Zealand - Wadkin Ltd. cast tag;
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 1024, test 50316, of 1954 - New Zealand - Wadkin Ltd. cast tag.

Edit: I find it interesting that, of these, 29 are in the UK, 32 are in New Zealand, and 1 in South Africa. I've not seen nor heard of a single one in Australia, and the only two I've seen in Canada had tags missing (and I know of two more in NZ with missing tags).

Cheers, Vann.

 

[Vann]

...a further document dated 17th September, 1930, summarises all new machinery received.

Included is that the 12 Bench Planers - High Speed were shipped as follows:
- 3 to Auckland (nearest port to Otahuhu workshops) – value £176 6s 9d;
- 3 to Wellington (nearest port to Hutt workshops) – value £176 6s 9d;
- 3 to Lyttleton (nearest port to Addington workshops) – value £176 6s 5d;
- 3 to Port Chalmers (nearest port to Hillside workshops) – value £176 6s 5d.
an average value of £58 15s 6d each...

In an attempt to identify just which RB surface planers make up these twelve, I've consulted the test sheets for the first 15 RB surface planers off the Wadkin production line.


These test sheets have enabled me to pick out the twelve machines with certainty as being RB 106 to RB 117. A quick summary of the 15 machines follows:

RB 105, test 4351, of 9th October, 1926;
RB 106, test 4355, of 11th October, 1926;
RB 107, test 4357, of 12th October, 1926;
RB 108, test 4358, of 12th October, 1926;
RB 109, test 4359, of 12th October, 1926;
RB 110, test 4360, of 13th October, 1926;
RB 111, test 4362, of 13th October, 1926;
RB 112, test 4365, of 14th October, 1926;
RB 113, test 4367, of 14th October, 1926;
RB 114, test 4370, of 15th October, 1926;
RB 115, test 4372, of 16th October, 1926;
RB 116, test 4374, of 18th October. 1926;
RB 117, test 4375, of 18th October, 1926;
RB 118, test 4544, of 14th December, 1926;
RB 119, test 4545, of 15th December, 1926.

It is rumoured that Wadkin started each model at #105 - and so far that appears to be the case (with the exception of their MN). RB 105 therefore is likely to have been the first off the production line - and the test page would tend to support that in so far as there is a lot more detail on that sheet than the others, and that machine was test run for 6 hours, whereas the following 14 machines were only test run for between 2:30 and 4 hours.

RB 105 was flat belt driven and had a stand (the NZ Railway dozen were/are “bench” planers). RB 118 also had a stand, and RB 119 was also belt driven. In addition both RB 105 and RB 118 have "F.S.cutter blocks" (if I read that correctly)...

...whereas RB 107, RB 109 and RB 111 are noted as having a "plain cutter block". Both RB 113 (in Christchurch) and RB 116 (in my garage) have plain cutter blocks.

I would guess that RB 105 was retained by Wadkin for their showroom - and was probably used for this artwork:

Whereas the "railway dozen" came in this format.


Cheers, Vann.

 

[Guineafowl21]

:text-coolphotos:
I wonder if any modern wood machine gets 3-6 hours of testing before release?

@Vann your list is missing RBA 422, test 11103, 1938 Wadkin Ltd. tin tag. Currently sitting under a cotton sheet, covered in WD40.

And no, I won’t be drilling a hole in the wall to accept the fence rod! Lucky I didn’t, since I’ve just had to move the machine to the right to enable planing of 2.5m, 63x200mm redwood baulks: RBD 212 (1932), Wadkin and co. cast tag, is currently helping me produce some custom architrave and picture rail mouldings for an estate.

 

[AndyP]

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

 

[Vann]

...@Vann your list is missing RBA 422, test 11103, 1938 Wadkin Ltd. tin tag. Currently sitting under a cotton sheet, covered in WD40...

Oops! Now rectified

...And no, I won’t be drilling a hole in the wall to accept the fence rod! Lucky I didn’t, since I’ve just had to move the machine to the right....

A-hah - maybe a slot in the wall then

Cheers, Vann.

 

[Vann]

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]

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.

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.

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.

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]

Having another look at the Batch List.

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.

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]

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.

 

[Vann]

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.


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:


Cheers, Vann.

 

[Vann]

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 422 - now owned by Guineafowl.

Cheers, Vann.

 

[Vann]

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:

 

[clogs]

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....?

 

[Guineafowl21]

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?

 

[clogs]

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

 

[Vann]

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]

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.



Cheers, Vann.

 

[Vann]

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.


* 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]

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.


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


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.

 

[AJB Temple]

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

Adrian

 

[Vann]

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]

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]

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.




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.

 

[Vann]

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).



Edit: RB 617 added.

Cheers, Vann.

 

[Vann]

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


Edit: RB 697 added 3 Feb 2022.
Cheers, Vann.

 

[clogs]

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....

 

[Vann]

Vann,
do u dream of these machines...

Yes

...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]

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;


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.

 

[9fingers]

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

 

[wallace]

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

 

[Vann]

The twelfth batch on the Batch List:

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;

Note the handwheels are now 3-spoke aluminium. Around 1949-50 Wadkin changed from cast-iron handwheels to aluminium handwheels on most of their range of machines - along with many other components such as the crown guards on their PK saw. I believe there was a lot of aluminium from WW2 aircraft available.

Also note the electrical control gear (or "Brookhirst") door is now the standard door used on many of Wadkins machines - wider and slightly shorter than used on previous RB surface planers.

And lastly, note the return of the standard 2nd type of fence (same as batches A-1257, A-1315, A-1500, A-2239, A-2289, A-2320 and 2372).


This is also the last batch to use the etched brass sheet "tin" tag.


Cheers, Vann.

 

[Vann]

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

Hi Bob. Don't mention Covid. There's an outbreak at present and it doesn't look like we're going to be able to eliminate it this time. So there's a major push to get everyone vaccinated. I work with two anti-vaxers - and my sister's one as well. Grrr...

As for the sheep - well they're safe around me. I'm 65 and can't catch them anymore...

Cheers, Vann.

 

[9fingers]

Sorry to hear about your current outbreak and good luck with getting jabbed real soon. I'd not seen much news about the position in NZ recently.
In UK we are learning to live with it and the vaccines mean that the effects for most people are far less serious after 2 jabs. I'm due my 3rd in around a month but we are still getting deaths but most of those are folk who have not been jabbed for whatever reason.

Back to planers, looking at some of your recent photos, there is something looking like a second small motor mounted below the main motor. Is this a feed motor? looks a strange location to me - as one who is not wadkin literate!

Stay safe
Bob

 

[Vann]

...and good luck with getting jabbed real soon. I'd not seen much news about the position in NZ recently...

Thanks. Both SWMBO and myself have had two jabs (Pfizer - the only option here), both daughters have had one jab, and my son has had at least one to date.

...Back to planers, looking at some of your recent photos, there is something looking like a second small motor mounted below the main motor. Is this a feed motor? looks a strange location to me - as one who is not wadkin literate

I believe that is a "Brookhirst" isolating switch, possibly containing fuses as well - an option on many Wadkin machines.


Cheers, Vann.

 

[Vann]

The thirteenth batch on the Batch List - I've only found one machine from this small-ish batch:

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;


This machine appears 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, A-2320, 2372 and 2469);
- 4th type of handwheels - cast aluminium, 3-spokes (same as batch A-2469);
- base casting with opening in boss for pushbuttons (same as batch A-2320, 2372 and 2469); and
- base casting with opening for standard (and wider) electric control gear door (same as batch A-2469).

And of course the new square cast brass tag.

Cheers, Vann.