Grandpa s Lathe In memory of William J. Andersen Compiled by Jim Andersen (his grandson) William J. Andersen was born August 12, 1890 and died in 1998 one month shy of his 108 th birthday. He grew up around Moline, Illinois. He only went through third grade in school but he was very good with his hands and on machines. In 1915 he moved to Racine, Wisconsin and worked for J.I. Case Company. Two years after he arrived in Racine he joined the United States Army. He served in France with a military tank repair company during World War I. Grandpa at the age of 90 After the war Grandpa led a tour of the military tanks around the country for about a year. The tanks were a new asset in battle during World War I and the general public was impressed with the machinery. While working to support his family Grandpa was employed as a steam shovel operator on a road building crew, he demolished buildings for Veenstra Wrecking and Lumber co. and worked for Massey Harris Co, from which he retired in 1955 at the age of 66. Grandpa running a piece of machinery at Massey Harris Co.
Grandpa working on our car with me watching. In 1932 he tore down a tannery in Kenosha while working for Veenstra Wrecking and Lumber Company. During that project he salvaged some tongue and groove flooring. He fastened two pieces of flooring together to make each of the ways (rails) of his lathe. The space between the grooves made a track for the tailstock to move in. We think he made this lathe in the mid- 1930 s.
He used an old White treadle sewing machine for the head stock. We think the sewing machine was grandma s old sewing machine which was probably made in the late 1800 s early 1900 s. This is probably what the sewing machine looked like
We do not know for sure where the motor came from but it was probably salvaged from a machine or appliance. We think he turned the wooden pulleys. Notice the rods for the motor to slide on. The tail stock was made from the base of an old fan.
His tools were homemade from chisels, files, saw blades, etc. There is also a heavy duty tool rest in the picture.
Owner Jim Andersen (grandson) Size 22 High x 16 Wide This walnut lamp shows his ability to make matching beads and coves.
Owner June Schaeffer (granddaughter) Date made - 1982 Grandpa was 92 at the time June and Bob received the walnut candle holder on the right as a wedding present. She wanted a pair of them to put on the wall so she asked Grandpa if he could make her one to match. The one on the left is the one that Grandpa made.
Owner - Larry Wise (grandson) Date made 1978 Grandpa was 88 at the time Grandpa made Becky and I a deacon's bench from leftover lumber from the house we built in Wausau. He bought the legs instead of turning them (he figured that purchased legs would be sturdier). He said the spindles in the back were from an antique surrey. He turned the spindles on the arms.
Grandpa made miniature grandfather clocks for some of his five children and some of his 21 grandchildren. Here are a few of them: Notice the tiny spindles and beads that he turned for each one.
Owner Jackie Voisin (granddaughter) This clock was made using a pendent watch that Jackie received from her mother
Owner Larry Wise (grandson) Size 14 High x 4 Wide This miniature grandfather clock was made with my father's (Donald Wise) high school graduation watch. It is missing the finial on the very top.
Owner Jim Andersen (grandson) Size 10 High x 5 Wide This miniature clock was made using a pocket watch for the face and pendulum. The chimes are made from ball point pen refills. He hand turned each of the tiny beads around the face and body of the clock.
Owner June Schaeffer (granddaughter) Date made 1973 at age 83 June s father made her a full size grandfather clock. Grandpa made her this miniature clock to match from a necklace pendent watch.
Owner Judy Ott (granddaughter) Size 12 High x 3 3/8 wide x 2 5/8 deep Date made 1973 at age 83 It has two doors on the back that open but the clock does not work. It was made from a pendant watch I got for Christmas a year or two before, (I think it was a gift from Grandpa that year) as were the other girls'. The hanging pendulum is the back of the watch. The picture above the watch is of two deer out in the snow. What really makes it special is that Grandpa made it for me.
Owner Bob Andersen (son) Size 15 High x 4 Wide
Owner - Bob Andersen (son) Size 14 ½ High x 4 Wide
Owner Bill Andersen (Grandpa s son and my dad)
Owner Jackie Voisin (granddaughter) These candle holders were made from oak.
Owner June Schaeffer (granddaughter) Date made 1981 at age 91 This shows two different views of the same candle holders Grandpa made for June. Grandpa also made the nativity scene jigsaw puzzle shown between the candle holders in the lower photo. Owner Sally Voisin (great-grand-daughter Date 1993 at age 102
This clothes rack belongs to Sally. The back of it says, Made by Wm H. Andersen and the pegs were turned by Wm J. Andersen, in 1992.
Owner June Scheaffer (granddaughter) These candle holder trios were made by Grandpa to fit into a single candle holder. He made two of them so it could be used to hold three or five (see photo below)
Owner - Margaret Wise (daughter) Size 6 High x 14 Wide Date made 1970 at age 80 Grandpa made this corner shelf for Aunt Margaret while they were living in Zion. It is made of white pine.
Grandpa can fix it By Margaret Wise (Grandpa s daughter) My bicycle is broken, The parts can't be found; But my grandpa can fix it When He comes around. My train won't work right Doesn't stop when it should, But my grandpa can fix it He promised he would. I fell down this morning And skinned up my knee, But my grandpa can fix it. Just you wait and see. Dad tore apart his clock, Thought he'd fix it today. I think he's decided To throw it away. I'll ask Grandpa to fix it When he comes to stay, But I'm not quite sure What my daddy would say. If I ask Grandpa to fix it I know that he can, For he can fix anything That's been made by man. Oh, Grandpa, our grandpa, What would we do If the day ever came That we didn't have you> When God calls you up there To the home of the blest, Will you find things to fix Before you can rest?
Owner Jackie Voisin (granddaughter) Date made 1983 he was 93 at the time When Jackie and Dan got married they had a bed but no headboard so dad made them this one out of oak and Grandpa turned the post.
Independence Hall scale model replica Built by my father, William H. Andersen, with help from his father, my grandpa, William J. Andersen Dad made the replica of Independence Hall in time for the bicentennial in 1976. Grandpa turned all of the little spindles that made up the railings around the upper parts of the building. He also turned a model of the Liberty Bell that hangs inside the bell tower on the very top. After Grandpa turned the bell from a block of mahogany he brought it over to show dad. He was kind of embarrassed to show dad because the wood developed a crack in it. When dad looked at it he said, that s OK the crack is just like it is suppose to be.
Dad and Grandpa assembling the model of Independence Hall in the spring of 1976
This was not turned on his lathe but Grandpa made this round table to store his pens, pencils, crossword puzzle books, thesaurus, dictionary, etc. He had it sitting right next to his favorite chair in the living room where he spent most of his time in his later years.
December 19, 2009 I displayed Grandpa s lathe at my wood turning club, Coulee Region Woodturners, in LaCrosse, Wisconsin. They were very impressed with the quality of Grandpa s work, especially the lamp. I consider this book to be a work in progress. I would be glad to add more information to it. If you have any items that Grandpa turned send me a digital picture attached to an e-mail along with any description or memories about Grandpa s lathe and his turnings or contact me so we can make some arrangements to get the information. Comments are also welcome from anyone who reads this. Thank you for taking the time to read this. Jim Andersen 1225 W. Maple Street Lancaster, WI 53813 608-723-6178 janderse@chorus.net
Besides Grandpa s woodturning he also enjoyed model trains. Here are a couple of early pictures of his model train set up. He added a lot more buildings and scenery after these pictures were taken. It took up a corner of his basement. Us grandkids loved to watch it run.
Everyone who visited Grandpa remembers this nick-nack shelf that he had on the kitchen wall. It was white when he had it but Jackie painted it blue to fit with her décor.