Is this a Corley

sawguyver · February 05, 2006, 08:39:29 PM

After looking though hours of posts I think this might be a corley.
What do you think.

Paul_H · February 05, 2006, 09:56:23 PM

It sure appears to be in good working order.I'm looking forward to finding out what it is too.

Sawyerfortyish · February 05, 2006, 11:04:45 PM

Never seen a corley but ran an american for 16yrs and the set works and dog you have pictured look exactly like them. The saw guied looks a little differant but the belts and drives in the husk are the same Except I had babbit bearings. Be interesting to see what corley5 has to say if he jumps in.

sawguyver · February 05, 2006, 11:26:41 PM

Thanks sawyerfortyish.
I'm told it may be from around the 1920's maybe 30's

I'm thinking that the color of the husk might be a clue.

highpockets · February 06, 2006, 05:36:52 AM

What is a husk ?

BBK · February 06, 2006, 05:53:32 AM

Quote from: Sawyerfortyish on February 05, 2006, 11:04:45 PM
Never seen a corley but ran an american for 16yrs and the set works and dog you have pictured look exactly like them. The saw guied looks a little differant but the belts and drives in the husk are the same Except I had babbit bearings. Be interesting to see what corley5 has to say if he jumps in.

We've had 2 American mills, both dated from the 1930's. The set works is exactly like the American "Ideal setworks" on the # 1 & #2 sized mills. he Dogs also look like similar to the American. The guide is exactly like the one on the american #2 I am currently running. The only thing throwing me is the belt drive. The American mills used a "rocker"system with the "stick" tightening the belts rotating aroung the carriage drive shaft. This one looks different.

isassi · February 06, 2006, 06:36:08 AM

The husk is the frame assemble that has the saw arbor, and drive the cable drum, saw guides, ect. depending on equipment. I had to ask too Highpockets, when I was looking at mills, and I grew up around one, just never knew the terminology ;D

Sawyerfortyish · February 06, 2006, 07:01:02 AM

BBK I seen what your talking about on the throttle handle as I call it. My handle was bolted to the swing frame that the small drive pullys are on the other end of. This one has a shaft comming from that frame and attaching to the throttle handle that is mounted on it's own pivit point
The color of the husk is also the same as my origanal husk on my old american but I had to replace mine and painted it grey.

BBK · February 06, 2006, 10:16:58 AM

I'm womdering if this old mill has been helped out with some misc parts from others. I have heard of rebuilding Corley, American and Frick with each others parts. I know a lot of frick belt drive and carriage parts will match well together.

sawguyver · February 06, 2006, 05:40:11 PM

I looked up American sawmill at OWWM and found no pictures but...
in there old publications section I found this.

the counter weights look right.

heres a view of those counter weights

and a different angle. :D

The set works are also there described as american set works with quick receder
so are the dogs. this catalog is dated 1923

sawguyver · February 06, 2006, 06:44:24 PM

A closer look shows a spacer welded on to the head blocks.

With this I could my last board to 1"

The catalog mentions mill sizes as Pony, No.1 or No.2. Is there any idea how to size this one ???

Just other fun pictures

Sawyerfortyish · February 06, 2006, 09:01:24 PM

Whats that white stuff on the ground in the last couple pictures ???. That mill is a long ways from home it was made in Hackettstown N.J. about 15 minuets from me. I think it's older than you know. The American sawmill Co was bought out and moved south about 70yrs ago. I've seen more of these mills go for scrap than I've seen running. They are a good mill. The one I had used babbit bearings and was made sometime around 1910-15 I also had two other mills for parts. I still run across one here and there in the woods or in a pasture or behind a barn. Most all of the parts from any American mill will fit any model you can match the casting numbers.
That spacer on your headblock was usally welded there because a belly would wear in the headblock from heavy use and that was a quick fix.

sawguyver · February 06, 2006, 10:19:24 PM

Great info sawerfortyish

This is its second location. It was setup here in the early 50's. Before that it was only 60 miles from here.
The friction belts run really smooth and the reverse belt is original. She can come back really fast if you pull back hard. The bull lever is really responsive, you really feel connected to the machine.
The bearings were probably changed in the 60's although there is no trace of the old ones in the mill. There are still a few babbit bearings though