We picked this bench up at an estate auction and have been trying to research and gain any knowledge about the history behind this bench. We found it odd that it’s made by Oliver Machinery Co. There is no machine or serial number on the Oliver metal plaque, and can not find a number on the vise. 

Thanks in advance for any help!

Welcome aboard Heidi, glad to have you here.

Have you tried to contact Oliver directly?  They are still in business, and may be able to give you the info you are looking for:

https://olivermachinery.net/company

 

Good luck with your search!

Hi Heidi,

Welcome to The Patriot Woodworker.

I believe the bench you have is listed as a No. 1251 in the 1917, and 1923 Oliver catalogs.

The vises are also listed.

 

The 1917 catalog can be found here.

http://www.vintagemachinery.org/pubs/609/20375.pdf

The 1923 here.

http://www.vintagemachinery.org/pubs/609/5128.pdf

 

It looks like yours might be missing a front brace

Edited May 17, 20206 yr by Larry Buskirk

2 hours ago, Larry Buskirk said:

Hi Heidi,

Welcome to The Patriot Woodworker.

I believe the bench you have is listed as a No. 1251 in the 1917, and 1923 Oliver catalogs.

The vices are also listed.

 

The 1917 catalog can be found here.

http://www.vintagemachinery.org/pubs/609/20375.pdf

The 1923 here.

http://www.vintagemachinery.org/pubs/609/5128.pdf

 

It looks like yours might be missing a front brace

 

I knew that was coming, what do you do memorize those old catalogs???

What else to do when it's too wet to plow? 

36 minutes ago, Gunny said:

 

I knew that was coming, what do you do memorize those old catalogs???

...I've pretty much got the 1931-37 Delta catalogs memorized, the others I have to go back and look. 

6 minutes ago, Gene Howe said:

What else to do when it's too wet to plow? 

...and too windy to haul rocks....

6 minutes ago, lew said:

...and too windy to haul rocks....

...Right now they're under water. 

4 hours ago, Larry Buskirk said:

Hi Heidi,

Welcome to The Patriot Woodworker.

I believe the bench you have is listed as a No. 1251 in the 1917, and 1923 Oliver catalogs.

The vises are also listed.

 

The 1917 catalog can be found here.

http://www.vintagemachinery.org/pubs/609/20375.pdf

The 1923 here.

http://www.vintagemachinery.org/pubs/609/5128.pdf

 

It looks like yours might be missing a front brace

We are missing the front brace, we are certain on that. The brace that is currently on the back legs should be on the front. It was moved to the back legs for stability 

Are those braces morticed into the legs? Could you move the back one forward and, fabricate one for the back. 

Just now, Gene Howe said:

Are those braces morticed into the legs? Could you move the back one forward and, fabricate one for the back. 

We can absolutely do that!

I have seen that brace removed on other tables as well.  Usually when it is shoved against a wall and the user doesn't want to jamb a toe when working at bench.  Bigfooted people problems??

43 minutes ago, Gunny said:

Bigfooted people problems??

...Talking about me again? 

 

30 minutes ago, Larry Buskirk said:

...Talking about me again? 

 

If the shoe fits.

9 minutes ago, Gunny said:

If the shoe fits.

13 EEE, I've got a good understanding.

Edited May 17, 20206 yr by Larry Buskirk

Welcome to the group @heidi.    It's good to have someone else here whose name does not get blindly misspelled by the i-after-e-except-after-c people.  Weird, huh?

1 hour ago, kmealy said:

Welcome to the group @heidi.    It's good to have someone else here whose name does not get blindly misspelled by the i-after-e-except-after-c people.  Weird, huh?

...Sometimes having Dyslexia helps! 

5 hours ago, Gunny said:

I have seen that brace removed on other tables as well.  Usually when it is shoved against a wall and the user doesn't want to jamb a toe when working at bench.  Bigfooted people problems??

We absolutely believe that’s what happened. It was sitting up next to a wall. 

Your workbench is in the 1917 catalog on the lower left of page 267.  The front brace is about knee high.

 

Welcome aboard, Heidi.  So good to have you here.  

31 minutes ago, FlGatorwood said:

The front brace is about knee high.

 

My knee hurts just thinking about how many times I would nail that thing.