Thread: Mars Planer

I attended an auction today where they were disposing of the assets of a small engineering firm in Rockhampton. Amongst the machinery was a Mars Planer.
Originally an overhead belt drive it has been converted to hydraulic operation using a largish 3 phase pump and a small hydraulic motor coupled to the original drive pulley.
A basic motor and spindle assembly has replaced the clapper assembly which I am told is still in the workshop somewhere.

I wasn't specifically in the market for a planer but items like this don't appear very often so I entered into some spirited bidding and it's now mine.

I wont get it home for at least a week so I'll post some photos then. The table is 6-7 feet long. Not sure how that relates to the stroke.

Information on Mars Machinery seems quite sparse on the internet and for planers is almost non existent. If anyone has any leads on information I would be most grateful.

John

I got not idea about these things but congratulations on your new acquisition!

You may have saved it from going to scrap metal.

Simon

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Well done John! I'm looking forward to the pics. You will have seen reference to the Mars Lathe Mars Lathes for info on this company. They were based at Eagle Farm for some years.

Unfortunately nothing on Planers.


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Originally Posted by simonl

You may have saved it from going to scrap metal.

The other bidder does do a lot of scrap metal work but when I spoke to him afterwards he indicate he wasn't interested in it for it's scrap value.
Either way it should be safe with me.

Originally Posted by markpest

Well done John! I'm looking forward to the pics. You will have seen reference to the Mars Lathe Mars Lathes for info on this company. They were based at Eagle Farm for some years.

Unfortunately nothing on Planers.


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The first thing I checked was the Lathes.UK site. I have also had a look at the newspaper archive site Trove.

The owner said he purchased the machine virtually unused from the university in Townsville. Its main use since then was beveling Bisalloy plates for a power station job.

Well done, I will have to come over for an inspection when you get it installed. Was there much else there? I never saw any listing, not that I have been looking at local auctions.

image.jpg

Well done. If a planer unexpectedly popped up at any clearing sale I was at, I reckon it would probably come home with me. Looking forward to the photos.

Originally Posted by .RC.

Well done, I will have to come over for an inspection when you get it installed. Was there much else there? I never saw any listing, not that I have been looking at local auctions.

It was Kawana Engineering shutting up shop. I saw some gear advertised on Gumtree about a week ago then an add in Sat paper. No website link, no equipment listing and 1 days notice. It all seemed a bit rushed.
No more than 20 bidders attended.
A few old welders, a large 50 taper mill, an old Cincinnati Arrow CNC. (none of this sold).
Some lathes already sold and 1 long bed machine with no bids.

45 years of history gone.

Thanks for the picture. Looks like 6 ft is the size.

Things moving pretty slowly down here. Still no power on the shed. Lazy electrician syndrome strikes again.

Originally Posted by GuzziJohn

I attended an auction today where they were disposing of the assets of a small engineering firm in Rockhampton. Amongst the machinery was a Mars Planer.
Originally an overhead belt drive it has been converted to hydraulic operation using a largish 3 phase pump and a small hydraulic motor coupled to the original drive pulley.
A basic motor and spindle assembly has replaced the clapper assembly which I am told is still in the workshop somewhere.

I wasn't specifically in the market for a planer but items like this don't appear very often so I entered into some spirited bidding and it's now mine.

I wont get it home for at least a week so I'll post some photos then. The table is 6-7 feet long. Not sure how that relates to the stroke.

Information on Mars Machinery seems quite sparse on the internet and for planers is almost non existent. If anyone has any leads on information I would be most grateful.

John

Bugger, if I knew about it the bidders woulda been three..
I've got a couple of Mars lathes and a Mars mill. A planner would be a nice addition.

Be nice if they find the clapper for it.

I've had officeworks copy up some of the old full page adverts to poster size. If yer want one, free bee, PM me your postage address.




.

Originally Posted by YBAF

Bugger, if I knew about it the bidders woulda been three..
I've got a couple of Mars lathes and a Mars mill. A planner would be a nice addition.

Be nice if they find the clapper for it.

I've had officeworks copy up some of the old full page adverts to poster size. If yer want one, free bee, PM me your postage address.


.

The owner reckons the clapper is there somewhere so hopefully it turns up.

I would love a copy of an advert. That's very considerate of you. Will send a PM.

John

Welcome to the planer owners club.

Originally Posted by snapatap

Welcome to the planer owners club.

I think I'm only an associate member until I get it home and powered up.

From The Bulletin 1945

planer 1.JPG

I guess "high speed" is probably a little optimistic in this case.

I think the clapper box will be needed to get the cheapest use out of it. Just use HSS then.

"without pictures, it didn't happen" )

Really enjoying Keith Rucker's (youtube) series on the New Haven planer resto atm. Well done.