My Latest Trade

[Kodiak]

This is my latest trade, Old Table saw for Old Cider Press. It's interesting how it ties into farm equipment.


The press was made by the Thomas & Mast Co. they were formed in 1856
and made grain drills and cider presses until about 1865 when they began to make cultivators and other implements. They lost their identity along with other companies in the 1929 merger into the Oliver Farm & Equipment Company.

I do have the press screw it was so heavy I didn't put it in the picture and all moving parts work!

Kodiak

[John *.?-!.* cub owner]

good looking rig, shouldn't be too dificult to restore. The one we used to have was only a barrel with a hnd screw and lid.

[Bob McCarty]

Hi, Here's a little more history. I've restored a Thomas horse drawn grain drill. John Thomas and P.P. Mast split up. Thomas bought a 1/3 interest in Superior, and also started Thomas Mfg which his sons ran. Superior merged into American Seeding and then Oliver. Thomas Mfg existed up until 1920, but I've never been able to find out if they merged into Oliver or not. I have several old PP Mast catalogs, and I'll see if there are any pictures of the cider presses in them, that show lettering or colors.
Bob

[ljw]

Kodiak,
Looks like you made out pretty good on your trade. How is the best way to handle it? Do you keep it "as is", or do you refurbish it using new wood and cleaning up the metal? What kind of "wood would" you use? I've been looking for something like that myself. I'm either going to fork over the money or find a good deal. I've been waiting for a good deal.
Larry

[Kodiak]

rjmac, Anything you can send would be great. I'll send you the links to the merger info I found on Thomas & Mast. Correct colors would be nice.

ljw, I plan to use the press, I'll clean and paint the metal parts (powder coating?) I was going to replace the wood with oak but the wooden parts appear to be hand hewn with a drawknife. The bottom of the legs are rotten from sitting outside. decisions, decisions, decisions??? which way to go! Many thanks to Phantom for being willing to trade with me. Hope the saw works out well for you!

Kodiak

[ljw]

Kodiak,
Are you certain you want to paint the metal? I would think that the metal could be cleaned and seasoned with a food friendly oil, i.e., vegetable oil. I have a press that I use for apples and I never treat anything that comes in contact with the food. I was wondering about the antiquity value of something like that. But after thinking about it, I guess it would have to be restored no matter what. I think you have quite a object d'art there!!
Larry

[George Willer]

That looks like ours did last time I saw it. When it arrived on the farm it looked like new as Great Uncle Will took very good care of it until his apple tree died. I think the wood was all oak and the original pin striping was perfect. It's a shame it sat for so many years under the mulberry tree and deteriorated so badly.

As I recall, the screw had a small wheel on top with four projections for the handle. The loose handle was like a club that could be used with any pair of projections. I think most of the metal parts were painted black and the wood was varnished and then decorated with broad (red) pin striping and maybe some yellow designs. I have no idea of the make.

This was the same great uncle who later sold me my first car... a '37 Chevy when he bought a new '50.