My latest find from the woodwork

[nvmos2]

That is a really beautiful machine.
It is amazing that it survived in this condition.
Who knows what else is stashed away out there; but this is truly a rare find and must have an interesting story behind it!

[Dave]

I will ask the guy I bought it from if it is OK to post the history behind it. There are lots of names and dates. I don't think it will be a problem but best to ask first.

The condition that it is in now is not the condition that I got it in.

I am not an expert on uprights by any stretch of the imagination. A guy I know does museum quality restorations and after I got the machine I hauled it over to his place (only 1,100 miles one way). He spent months cleaning it up and getting it in the shape that you see it. Fortunately the mechanism and the wheel and the head and most of the cabinet where all in decent shape. As you probably know, there were no non-smoking places 100+ years ago and this machine sat in a smoke filled room for many years and also had lots of other crud on the cabinet. He was able to remove the crud and save the original finish.

He said the ornate cabinet with the columns is what really makes this Owl unique.

[atac]

Great machine Dave! I also have a Watling Owl--history on mine is a friend's father found and bought it in Argentina in an antique store in the 1960's. When I first bought it I thought it was a Mills Owl and when I saw the Watling coin head, I thought I got a bastard machine. But every casting has W M Co in the back, so figured it out pretty quick. Roger K did the Watts on the castings and Jeff Frahm restored the mech and cabinet.

[Dave]

Atac:

Your Owl looks very nice. It is interesting how they changed the cabinet. I suspect my cabinet is earlier because it does not have the caps above the columns nor does it have the metal Owl emblem like yours does.

Dave

[Midcoast Vintage]

We're still waiting for the story of how this beauty survived.

[SLOT DYNASTY]

I am still waiting patiently for the story as well. Oh! and the Serial number by all means, please.

[terick2104]

How do I post to this forum with a question?

[Dave]

I talked to the original owner a month ago. He has found out more information and I am waiting for his email to me with more of the story. He found out that his grandpa also had a still in the basement where this machine was in operation.

He is also looking for photos of the machine on location.

Dave

[Dave]

How do I post to this forum with a question?

Go to the area that you want to post to (e.g., Just Chatting, Fantastic Finds, etc.) and click on the New Topic button/link

[SLOT DYNASTY]

How do I post to this forum with a question?

You just did............congratulations.