Union Hill Antique Tools - Barnes #2 Velocipede Scroll Saw

There are 3 types of #2 scroll saws known:

Type 1 sold with the round drive belt, oval solid pedals, and early counter-weighted boring attachment from 1876 to 1877.
Type 2, sold from 1880-1886, had the round belt, square open pedals, but the late (tabbed) boring attachment.
Type 3 sold with the flat perforated belt which was patented in 1886, so from that year to the end of the its production in 1937 it had the flat belt, oval solid pedals, and the later (cast-tabbed) boring attachment. This type is known as the "Improved #2 Saw."

All machines provided a "tractor-style" seat for the operator, which resembled the seat of early farm tractors (before founding the Barnes company, John Barnes had worked in agricultural machinery).

The pedals found on Barnes #2 changed over the years as well. Earlier machines (between 1876 and 1877) used cast iron oval pedals. By 1880, square open-framed castings were used for the pedals, and then in 1886 the company went back to the oval cast iron pedal. Because of this flip-flop, it is difficult to accurately date a specific Barnes machine with the pedal design alone.

The #2 machine had a swing of 24 inches, a 7 inch blade, table of hard maple and frame of cast iron. It weighed 90 pounds (130 pounds boxed). One 3/16 inch boring bit was included as standard equipment, other sizes were optional and ranged in price from 15 cents for the small size (1/16 inch) to 35 cents for the largest (1/4 inch). This machine could cut 2 inch pine at 1 foot per minute, and 3 inch thick walnut at 6 inches per minute. It sold for $20.00 with the boring attachment and $18.00 without.

#2 Velocipede Saws (Type 1, 2, and 3 left to right)


Home What's New Web Site Creation Want Ads Articles Search This Site Send Feedback Antique Tools Planes Rules Levels Miscellaneous Tools Books FINETOOLS List PNTC Tool Appraisals Other Sites About This Site	Barnes #2 Velocipede Scroll Saw There are 3 types of #2 scroll saws known: Type 1 sold with the round drive belt, oval solid pedals, and early counter-weighted boring attachment from 1876 to 1877. Type 2, sold from 1880-1886, had the round belt, square open pedals, but the late (tabbed) boring attachment. Type 3 sold with the flat perforated belt which was patented in 1886, so from that year to the end of the its production in 1937 it had the flat belt, oval solid pedals, and the later (cast-tabbed) boring attachment. This type is known as the "Improved #2 Saw." All machines provided a "tractor-style" seat for the operator, which resembled the seat of early farm tractors (before founding the Barnes company, John Barnes had worked in agricultural machinery). The pedals found on Barnes #2 changed over the years as well. Earlier machines (between 1876 and 1877) used cast iron oval pedals. By 1880, square open-framed castings were used for the pedals, and then in 1886 the company went back to the oval cast iron pedal. Because of this flip-flop, it is difficult to accurately date a specific Barnes machine with the pedal design alone. The #2 machine had a swing of 24 inches, a 7 inch blade, table of hard maple and frame of cast iron. It weighed 90 pounds (130 pounds boxed). One 3/16 inch boring bit was included as standard equipment, other sizes were optional and ranged in price from 15 cents for the small size (1/16 inch) to 35 cents for the largest (1/4 inch). This machine could cut 2 inch pine at 1 foot per minute, and 3 inch thick walnut at 6 inches per minute. It sold for $20.00 with the boring attachment and $18.00 without. #2 Velocipede Saws (Type 1, 2, and 3 left to right)
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