Why crowned pulleys and bandsaw wheels?

[tonyfoale]

Thank you Tony for your intuitive explanation for why pulleys with a center crown work so well in keeping the belts centered........... he shows a rare tour of his shop. On his workbench is the same style Burgess bandsaw. I think both of you have had this type of bandsaw forever and great to see tools owned and maintained for over 50 years by the same owner.

Paul,
It is amazing how good those little bandsaws were/are. The only thing that I have modified are the blade guides. I often think that a motor upgrade would help but it has never been a big enough problem to motivate me to do it.
I believe that Black and Decker bought the company or maybe just the rights to make the saw. I tried one once and it was nothing like as good as the original, it had been cheapened down.
Talking of keeping tools for a long time, I still have a number of hand tools that were my father's. He wasn't involved in hobbies which required tools like I am but he had a few tools for jobs around the house. he never had a single power tool. I use almost daily a small ball pane hammer and several pliers etc. that were his. Probably 80/90 years old.
When I started working at 15, I worked with an 85 year old, he had two sons who had no interest in dirty hands stuff and one day he invited me to his home, told me that he would not be using several tools again and insisted that I take them. I still have and use several that must be well over 100 years old. The throw-away idea didn't exist when these tools were made and I expect that in due course my son or grandson will continue with them, but they'll have to wait until I'm 6' under before I'll be giving them up.