Who has the oldest bandmill?

[ozarkgem]

I know there are some circle mills over 100 yrs old but who has the oldest working portable bandmill? Mine was made in 1982. Not too old. I am thinking of the Woodmizer or similar style.

[Delawhere Jack]

Hearne Hardwoods in Oxford PA has a huge bandmill that dates to the early 1940's. It came from the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard were it was used to mill lumber for aircraft carrier decks (and maybe other uses?).

It is definately NOT portable though... :D

[ozarkgem]

Hearne Hardwoods in Oxford PA has a huge bandmill that dates to the early 1940's. It came from the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard were it was used to mill lumber for aircraft carrier decks (and maybe other uses?).

It is definately NOT portable though... :D

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I was thinking of small portable bandmills. I know there are bandmills over 100yrs old also. Not really sure who first made the portable bandmills. Maybe Woodmizer?

[bandmiller2]

OG, that's a good question, they just sort of evolved. I'am sure it started with some wood worker running smallish logs through his shop bandsaw. Its really a simple idea and there were probably multiple homebuilts  unknown to each other. Probibly if we could find out when band blades, as we know them, became available we could get a hint. Of course big band mill have bee around a long time. Frank C.

[NMFP]

Not a portable mill, but I have a resaw that's gas powered in the barn that was manufactured in 1980.  The bands then were just 1" wide and when I purchased it, I had to purchase new band wheels to accommodate 1-1/2" wheels.

The only information I have on it says : 
ROYAL SAWS   MFG 1980  SN 183428  Kansas

[ozarkgem]

Not a portable mill, but I have a resaw that's gas powered in the barn that was manufactured in 1980.  The bands then were just 1" wide and when I purchased it, I had to purchase new band wheels to accommodate 1-1/2" wheels.

The only information I have on it says : 
ROYAL SAWS   MFG 1980  SN 183428  Kansas

Kansas seems an odd place for sawmill equipment to be made. Of course the eastern part has quite a few trees just not miles and miles of timber.

[NMFP]

Don't know.  That's all it says on the tag.  Its definitely simple to work on and not much technology change for a 34 year old machine.

[GAB]

I've been told that Wood-Mizer started the portable bandsaw mill business in 1982.
Was also told that they bought back the first mill they had sold prior to their 25 anniversary.  I saw that mill in Hannibal, NY in 2007 and met the gentleman who had originally purchased it.  The gentleman I heard, has since passed away.  May he RIP.
Gerald

[Stephen1]

[/quote]
Kansas seems an odd place for sawmill equipment to be made. Of course the eastern part has quite a few trees just not miles and miles of timber.
[/quote]
Farmers have some good blocks of time to build things, like sawmills