Union Hill Antique Tools - Barnes Wood Former (Shaper)

The Barnes wood former was a foot-powered, velocipede style shaper. It has a tractor seat for the operator, who pumped away at the two pedals and worked his stock past the whirring blade at roughly chest level. The table was fairly small at 14 inches square, limiting the workpiece size. Stock up to 7/8 inch could be worked. The operator could pedal in either direction, giving this machine reversing capability.

Two types of the former machine are known:

Type 1, made from 1877-1886, was actually an optional attachment for the #2 scroll saw. It replaced the scroll saw table with a square former table and the forming head. The table had circular cutouts at each corner. Type 1 machines used the round drive belt.
Type 2, made from 1886-1936, was a dedicated former machine, and used the flat perforated belt. This is the type usually pictured in most Barnes catalogs, but the catalogs show the dedicated former with the table notched at each corner, while all known intact examples have a fully square table (the Smithsonian's example notwithstanding). This type used a totally different drive design where the velocipede action drove a vertical shaft instead of a large flywheel and a gearing system converted that motion to a horizontally-mounted flat drive belt. This was referred to as the "Improved Type."

On either type, the table could be raised or lowered by means of a thumbscrew to expose more or less of the cutting bit (knife).

Barnes sold a large variety of the knives, usually for $1.00 each. (Two varieties of knives, first variety stamped, latter variety machined, and they could be stacked. Early stamped types worked better and lasted on the market longer than the machined) Today, these are very hard to find. Without knives, the machine sold for $20.00 and weighed 80 pounds (110 pounds boxed).

Wood Former (Shaper)


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 Wood Former (Shaper) The Barnes wood former was a foot-powered, velocipede style shaper. It has a tractor seat for the operator, who pumped away at the two pedals and worked his stock past the whirring blade at roughly chest level. The table was fairly small at 14 inches square, limiting the workpiece size. Stock up to 7/8 inch could be worked. The operator could pedal in either direction, giving this machine reversing capability. Two types of the former machine are known: Type 1, made from 1877-1886, was actually an optional attachment for the #2 scroll saw. It replaced the scroll saw table with a square former table and the forming head. The table had circular cutouts at each corner. Type 1 machines used the round drive belt. Type 2, made from 1886-1936, was a dedicated former machine, and used the flat perforated belt. This is the type usually pictured in most Barnes catalogs, but the catalogs show the dedicated former with the table notched at each corner, while all known intact examples have a fully square table (the Smithsonian's example notwithstanding). This type used a totally different drive design where the velocipede action drove a vertical shaft instead of a large flywheel and a gearing system converted that motion to a horizontally-mounted flat drive belt. This was referred to as the "Improved Type." On either type, the table could be raised or lowered by means of a thumbscrew to expose more or less of the cutting bit (knife). Barnes sold a large variety of the knives, usually for $1.00 each. (Two varieties of knives, first variety stamped, latter variety machined, and they could be stacked. Early stamped types worked better and lasted on the market longer than the machined) Today, these are very hard to find. Without knives, the machine sold for $20.00 and weighed 80 pounds (110 pounds boxed). Wood Former (Shaper)
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