branding

[bandsawman]

I worked for the startrite company in Gillingham for many years in the late 60s-8os. the company worked on the principle of providing value in a well built machine. Consequently there are 352 band saws and TA275 table saws still in use after 40 years. We manufactured all the band saws and table saws at the Gillingham factory and we bought some machines like the planer and universal from robland in Belgium. Obviously over 40 years some things changed, the TA table saws had the correct speed for a plate blade not a tct, but tc blades still work on them. Band saw technology has moved on but a 352 circa 1980 commands more than its list price then, this may say our policy was right.
It therefore pains me to see the current owner of the startrite name offering a not so great Chinese machine (403, 502e) bearing the name. China for hobby and thats ok, Europe for quality. How many china machines will have spares in 10 years time, not many.
Having served all that time with startrite I may be able to answer some of your members queries on old model numbers with information and advice.
This may not be of interest but I am open to any questions and hope I can be of help.

[tusses]

Hi Bandsawman

I have a startrite 352 Bandsaw .. still works well.
will need the top bearing replacing soon .. but they are readily available
could do with a fence .. just for completeness .. but is fine with my home made one

[bandsawman]

Hi Tusses
never known anyone not happy with a 352, every spare part is still available for that machine. But when you think how long ago that was designed amazing.
The first fence was a cast iron one on a square rail, it then went to a folded steel fence that sat on a sort of angle iron. This was the worst, the best was the last, a block running on a round bar. If you still have the square bar on the table get the early small cast fence it is ok. If you have a late machine with the thicker table, I think about 98 onward, they had the round bar fence which is good. I would not bother with the folded one in between if you homemade is working.