Vintage Delta Shapers

Here’s the full, detailed, SEO-optimized web page article about vintage Delta Planers, created in the same structured format as the rest of your Delta woodworking machine series:

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Vintage Delta Planers: Smooth Surfaces, Timeless Machines

Introduction

When it comes to preparing lumber for fine woodworking, the planer is indispensable—and few machines earned as much trust as the Delta planer. Known for their rugged cast-iron construction, accurate cutting, and longevity, vintage Delta planers served generations of woodworkers in home shops, schools, and professional cabinet shops. Today, they remain sought after by collectors and active craftsmen alike for their performance and historic value.

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History of Delta Planers

The Delta Specialty Company, founded in Milwaukee in 1919, quickly rose to prominence in the woodworking machinery world. By the 1930s and 1940s, Delta offered planers alongside jointers, table saws, and lathes, filling out its lineup of shop machines.

The Homecraft line in the 1940s brought smaller benchtop planers within reach of hobbyists, while larger Delta/Rockwell industrial planers of the 1950s and 1960s became staples in professional woodworking shops and school programs.

Delta’s planers were widely marketed through catalogs, hardware stores, and trade magazines, reinforcing the company’s reputation for reliable, well-built woodworking machines.

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Notable Delta Planer Models

• Delta Homecraft 12” Planer
  A compact, benchtop-style planer aimed at hobbyists and small workshops. Affordable and practical, it was designed to surface boards up to 12” wide.

• Delta/Rockwell 13” Planer (Model 22-200 Series)
  Introduced in the mid-20th century, this planer became one of the most recognizable vintage Delta machines. Known for its sturdy construction and accurate performance, it is still highly collectible today.

• Delta/Rockwell 15” and 18” Industrial Planers
  Heavy-duty floor-standing models designed for schools and cabinet shops. Their wide capacity and powerful cutterheads made them ideal for production-level work.

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Design and Features

Vintage Delta planers were built for accuracy and durability, with features such as:

• Cast-iron tables and frames for rigidity and vibration control.

• Three-knife cutterheads on larger models for smoother finishes.

• Manual or geared feed rollers to move stock through the machine.

• Adjustable depth controls for precise thicknessing.

• Cutting capacities ranging from 12” benchtop units to 18” industrial planers.

Many models were finished in the classic Delta gray paint scheme, with clear, functional controls.

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Usage and Applications

Delta planers were designed to take rough lumber and turn it into smooth, uniform stock ready for fine woodworking. Common uses included:

• Surfacing rough-sawn boards for cabinetry and furniture.

• Thicknessing stock for uniform panel building.

• Removing cup and twist in boards when combined with jointer preparation.

• Production woodworking, especially with the larger floor-standing models.

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Collectibility and Value Today

Vintage Delta planers remain desirable among collectors and active woodworkers due to their reputation for longevity and performance.

• Homecraft 12” planers appeal to collectors of small-shop tools and hobbyists.

• Delta 13” planers are some of the most collectible and usable vintage planers, often restored and put back into regular use.

• Large industrial planers are less common, but highly valued in professional restoration shops.

Values typically range from $300–$700 for 12” and 13” models, with large 15”–18” machines often exceeding $1,200–$2,500, depending on condition.

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Manuals, Catalogs, and Resources

Delta’s original catalogs and manuals provide detailed specifications and exploded diagrams—essential for identification and restoration. Many are available online today:

• VintageMachinery.org Delta Publications

• Historic woodworking catalogs available via Google Books

• Mid-20th-century trade ads and woodworking magazines

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Tips for Restoring and Maintaining Vintage Delta Planers

• Inspect and sharpen knives, or replace with modern equivalents.

• Check feed rollers for wear and replace if hardened or cracked.

• Clean and lubricate adjustment mechanisms for smooth depth control.

• Ensure tables are flat and aligned for accurate cuts.

• Upgrade with modern dust collection to improve shop safety.

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Conclusion

Vintage Delta planers represent the perfect blend of practicality and craftsmanship. From the compact Homecraft 12” models to the heavy-duty 18” industrial planers, these machines shaped woodworking in the 20th century and remain highly functional today. Collectors prize them for their historic value, while woodworkers continue to use them for the smooth, accurate surfaces they produce.

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Explore the history and legacy of vintage Delta planers, from compact 12” Homecraft models to heavy-duty 18” industrial machines. Learn about design features, collectibility, restoration tips, and where to find original Delta catalogs and manuals.

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Would you like me to continue next with Delta Disc Sanders (like the No. 1426) using the same template, so your site will have a full library of all the classic Delta machines?

The Delta Specialty Company was founded by Herbert Tautz in 1919. The American Boy Scroll Saw was the first breakthrough Delta product invented by Tautz in 1923. In 1937 Delta changed the woodworking industry by inventing the first 10-inch tilting arbor saw known today as the Unisaw. It's become one of the most popular mainstays of small and large shops around the world and is a prized possession of many woodworkers.

See Vintage Delta Shaper Photos that others have shared

 

If you have photos or information to share about the Delta line of industrial tools, please don't hesitate to share your tool photos with us.

 

Vintage Delta Tool Parts for Sale

Delta Table Saw Parts
Delta Band Saw Parts
Delta Scroll Saw Parts
Delta Jointer Parts
Delta Disc Sander Parts
Delta Belt Sander Parts
Delta Electric Motors
Delta Shaper Parts
Delta Disc Sander Parts
Delta Belt Sander Parts
Delta Wood Lathe Parts
Delta Rip Fences
Delta Miter Gauges
Delta Tool Stands

Vintage Delta Woodworking Tools

Also see the these other Vintage Delta tool pages.

• Vintage Delta Table Saws
• Vintage Delta Band Saws
• Vintage Delta Scroll Saws
• Vintage Delta Radial Arm Saws
• Vintage Delta Jointers
• Vintage Delta Drill Presses
• Vintage Delta Disc Sanders
• Vintage Delta Belt Sanders
• Vintage Delta Shapers
• Vintage Delta Lathes
• Vintage Delta Combination Belt Disc Sander
• Vintage Delta Combination Table Saw Jointer

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Delta Power Tools by Year

Delta Rockwell Power Tools - 1937
Delta Rockwell Power Tools - 1939
Delta Rockwell Power Tools - 1957

Vintage Delta Table Saws

Delta 10" Tilting Table Table Saw Model No. 1160
Delta 10" Contractors Saw
Delta 10" Unisaw
Delta 10" Tilting Arbor Unisaw (1948)
Delta Auto Set Miter Gage
Delta Rip Fence

Newer Delta Table Saws

Delta Table Saws
Delta Contractor Saw
Delta Cabinet Saw
Delta 36-715 10" Hybrid Saw
Delta 36-716 10" Hybrid Saw
Delta 36-717 10" Hybrid Saw

Vintage Delta Band Saws

Delta Homecraft 10" Band Saw No. 768 (1937)
Delta 14" Band Saw Model No. 28-207 (1949)
Delta 14" Band Saw Rip Fence

Old Band Saw Restoration Tips & Stories

Vintage Delta Jointer Models

Delta Homecraft 4" Jointer
Delta 4" Jointer No. 290 (1937)
Delta 6" Jointer
Delta 6 " Deluxe Long Bed Jointer Model 37-220

Vintage Delta Shaper Models

Delta Homecraft Shaper
Delta Heavy Duty Shaper Model 43-205

Vintage Delta Belt and Disc Sanders

Delta 12" Disc Sander No. 1426 (1939)
Delta 12" Disc Sander No. 1426 (1957)
Delta 6" Belt Sander No. 1400 (1937)
Delta 6" x 48" Belt Sander (1957)
Delta Combination 12" Disc & 6" x 48" Belt Sander

Vintage Delta Scroll Saw

Delta 24" Scroll Saw No. 1200 (1948)

Vintage Delta Wood Lathes

Delta 11" Wood Lathe No. 930 4 Speed (1937)
Delta 12" Wood Lathe (1948)
Delta 12" Wood Lathe No. 1460

More Old Woodworking Tool Links

• Old-Woodworking-Tools.net Home Page
• Delta Rockwell Woodworking Tools - Industrial Line
• Delta Homecraft Tools - For Home Shop
• General Woodworking Tools
• Sears Craftsman Tools - Favorite of home craftsman
• PowerMatic Woodworking Tools
• Jet Woodworking Tools
• Boyce Crane Tools
• Oliver Woodworking Tools
• Walker Turner Tools
• Stanley Planes

Visit Our New Woodworking Websites

Also visit our new sister sites that are currently under development with mobile capabilities.

Old Woodworking Machines - www.old-woodworking-machines.com- Information about motorized woodworking machinery.

Old Woodworking Tools - www.oldwodworkingtools.com - Information about antique woodworking tools (hand tools).