16" Walker Turner Wood-Cutting Band Saw

by Sam Whitley
(Houston, TX)

I bought the W-T BS in 2000 from a business that had used it for years. Paid their asking price ($300) after looking at the condition of the machine (good-very good overall). They had just replaced the tires with new rubber (had not crowned the wheels). The saw ran in their shop pretty quietly, without any discernible shaking or moving of the table or saw (ok, at 600+ pounds, it should be steady as a rock).

It looked lighter than it felt, as they loaded it into my suburban with a forklift. Two neighbors and I moved it into my garage with MUCH trouble. When I bought it, the internet had now really decided whether or not to stand up to crowning wheels, so I did not. Am ready to tackle it now, with Carter blade guides and wanting to do some really nice re-sawing. I have NO doubt it will do admirably once the tires are crowned. Wish me luck.

From recently published info on OWWM and other locations, it appears that the machine was manufactured in the 1940's (which is actually what I'd guessed from the shape and form of the machine on my own. Built like a tank. Now on a roller stand that lets me move it around the shop. I wouldn't take $1000 for it now. I have done nothing to restore it save building a pulley cover for safety.

Sam Whitley
Houston