Yup, Oliver saws were fine pieces of gear. I caught the cast iron bug in the early 90s and collected a few. I found a 20" thickness planet, 3 blade head, 8hp 440 3ph induction motor. 10mm cast iron surrounds, 1" steel plate base, 800 kg...forklift job. Pedal actuated multi-clutch power height mechanism. Huge lever to increase downward pressure on top feed roller. Even a 2 hp dust extractor was hard pressed to keep up...Quiet running until the knives bit. I had bark edge slab of something Eucalypt 18" wide, 32mm thick, 10 ft long, well suited for the top of a 5' Bar Leaner...you could've heard it in the next suburb! And a 26" cast iron bandsaw w/5hp 440 3ph induction motor, a 1" spindle moulded (shaper), an 8' belt sander.
All set up in my Bowral workshop in 2003. When doing sea change in 2012, all was sold as the new 'home' workshop is only 50m2 compared to the old 100m2. And I don't really miss it at all. But, were I 50 again, I'd still do it! This week, I'm camped in hospital awaiting the ever dreaded colonoscopy, following a surprise rectal bleed...as if 2 leg angioplasties and 2 cardiac PCIs weren't enough to curb my workshop time in the last 5 months...moral: do what the Dr says...
Thanks to all of you regular contributors here. Cheers.
Jim

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