...Photos...Walter A. Wood Mowing & Reaping Machine Company...1905...

lathefan

Titanium

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Nov 7, 2003

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Colorado

• Mar 23, 2017

• #1

 

enginebill

Stainless

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Feb 17, 2005

Location

Plymouth Meeting PA

• Mar 23, 2017

• #2

The guy in the second image wearing the bowler hat is operating a nice looking early lathe with a lot of swing.

 

S

sandiapaul

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Mar 19, 2004

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Princeton, NJ USA

• Mar 23, 2017

• #3

I have an old Wood catalog. Its sobering to think exactly how much machinery these companies had to produce their products. In this case nothing requiring a lot of precision, but look at the huge investment in machine tools. A lot of machines , and workers too of course, were needed to make this essential basic product. And they were but one of many making similar competing products. Lots of machine tools...and machinists.

 

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esbutler

Aluminum

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Oct 14, 2013

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Sloansville, NY

• Mar 23, 2017

• #4

Quite a history...
http://www.hoosickhistory.com/shortstories/WalterWoodPlant.htm

 

sable

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Feb 7, 2013

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midlands,UK

• Mar 23, 2017

• #5

I had always thought Walter A Wood was a British firm ,I have a pic /drawing of one of their mowers (could be a reaper )in a book somewhere. You learn something every day on PM!

 

N

northernsinger

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New England

• Mar 24, 2017

• #6

That is an excellent--though not clear--photograph of a bright and shiny fair sized Putnam lathe. This says S,W, Putnam & Sons, i think, and the photograph is inscribed '1905.' Nice, thanks.

It seems the same lathe is shownm in photos 2 and 3.

 

A

akajun

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Jul 1, 2011

Location

Brusly, LA

• Mar 24, 2017

• #7

Is this the same Woods company that still makes implements today?

 

N

northernsinger

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Aug 19, 2004

Location

New England

• Mar 25, 2017

• #8

I don't think so.

 

jdleach

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Sep 19, 2009

Location

Columbus, IN USA

• Mar 25, 2017

• #9

sable said:

I had always thought Walter A Wood was a British firm ,I have a pic /drawing of one of their mowers (could be a reaper )in a book somewhere. You learn something every day on PM!

Click to expand...

You were correct in your assumption Sable. Walter A. Wood established a British entity sometime in the 1890's or so. This firm had a long career furnishing equipment to the British farmer up into the 1980's. Rumor has it that Massive-Ferguson absorbed them at some point, though this is not verified.

The original Wood firm went into receivership in 1923, but was eventually dismantled and sold off in 1924.

The above info came from an article on an antique farm equipment site I found when Googling the company.

 

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ewlsey

Diamond

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Jul 14, 2009

Location

Peoria, IL

• Mar 25, 2017

• #10

The place sure seems like an unkempt mess. Parts on the floor everywhere stacked with no order.

 

M

maynah

Stainless

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Mar 24, 2005

Location

Maine

• Mar 26, 2017

• #11

Walter A. Wood implement seats seem to be very common. Next time you're at a junk shop or farm auction take a look. I don't collect them, but I have one. I think I've even seen a picture of one on a Barnes lathe. That tall crotch hump looks scary.

 

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JST

Diamond

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Jun 16, 2001

Location

St Louis

• Mar 26, 2017

• #12

ewlsey said:

The place sure seems like an unkempt mess. Parts on the floor everywhere stacked with no order.

Click to expand...

That's about normal for those days. More order than you might think, but less than later after the time and motion study people got going on it.