Hoorn
Well-known member
I thought it was high time we started a Delta Manufacturing Co. / Delta Rockwell thread to discuss and post all your Delta/Delta Rockwell stuff.
"Delta Specialty Company" was started in 1919 by machinist Herbert Tautz while working out of his garage, initially only producing small home tools then growing to light industrial. In 1929 Delta Specialty Co. became Delta Manufacturing Co.
In 1939 Tautz sold the company to The Marshall Fields Company, and in 1942 Marshal Fields sold the company to the Timken Detroit Axle Company.
Finally, (for purposes of our thread) in 1945 Delta was purchased by the Rockwell Manufacturing Company of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Rockwell continued with the Delta Milwaukee badge, but began incorporating the Rockwell logo on the serial number/model number tags. When Delta workers went on strike in 1952, Colonel Rockwell closed shop and moved production to Ohio and Mississippi. Badges then became Delta / Rockwell, dropping the Milwaukee.
To start this party, I'd like to submit my 1937 Delta belt sander, which I will be painting the original 1930s Delta gray / green when I know I'll have a week or so of decent weather:
Here is the original Delta grey / green. I think it's awesome.
I lucked out in that this belt sander came with very uncommon Delta cast iron wheels / foot pads. 8 pounds of wheels!
Here is a part I tracked down on a second Delta BS, the vacuum attachment.
And yet on a third, red Delta BS I snagged this "era correct" cast iron pulley guard. Comes in at 35 pounds!
Cleaning process
All right gentlemen, let's see your Delta MILWAUKEE table saw, drill press, band saw, shaper, jointer, scroll saw, disc sander, belt sander, grinder, etc! Date your machine as best as possible as Delta went through FIVE badge / logo changes from 1936-52!!
"Delta Specialty Company" was started in 1919 by machinist Herbert Tautz while working out of his garage, initially only producing small home tools then growing to light industrial. In 1929 Delta Specialty Co. became Delta Manufacturing Co.
In 1939 Tautz sold the company to The Marshall Fields Company, and in 1942 Marshal Fields sold the company to the Timken Detroit Axle Company.
Finally, (for purposes of our thread) in 1945 Delta was purchased by the Rockwell Manufacturing Company of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Rockwell continued with the Delta Milwaukee badge, but began incorporating the Rockwell logo on the serial number/model number tags. When Delta workers went on strike in 1952, Colonel Rockwell closed shop and moved production to Ohio and Mississippi. Badges then became Delta / Rockwell, dropping the Milwaukee.
To start this party, I'd like to submit my 1937 Delta belt sander, which I will be painting the original 1930s Delta gray / green when I know I'll have a week or so of decent weather:
Here is the original Delta grey / green. I think it's awesome.
I lucked out in that this belt sander came with very uncommon Delta cast iron wheels / foot pads. 8 pounds of wheels!
Here is a part I tracked down on a second Delta BS, the vacuum attachment.
And yet on a third, red Delta BS I snagged this "era correct" cast iron pulley guard. Comes in at 35 pounds!
Cleaning process
All right gentlemen, let's see your Delta MILWAUKEE table saw, drill press, band saw, shaper, jointer, scroll saw, disc sander, belt sander, grinder, etc! Date your machine as best as possible as Delta went through FIVE badge / logo changes from 1936-52!!
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