Manual - Popular Woodworking Magazine
Delta's "house organ" The Deltagram consisted of about 20-pages monthly of articles for the hobbyist woodworker. Advertisements for Delta products were scattered also throughout each issue. The many images of Delta tools show woodworkers constructing projects, for the most part, scaled to the tools of the era. Driven by fractional horse-power motors, the blades on the table saws are still only 8-inch blades, the jointer cutterheads 4 inches, and so forth. (Circular saws with ten inch blades are not available until later in the 1930s.) Subscription PoliciesIn the beginning, evidently The Deltagram was distributed free. This free distribution policy was changed in March, 1937:FormatThe Deltagram was published 6" x 9" format until the end of 1949. (The issues from 1932 to 1949 were bundled into a 4-volume set, and I was able to find an affordable set on Bookfinder.com) In January 1950 the format was changed to 8 1/2" X 11".EditorsThe Deltagram started in January 1932 under James Tate's editorship. Six issues were published each year. As editor, Tate's name is listed only until September 1933; Sam Brown assumed editorship in October 1934. Later, several other editors took over. The magazines frequently features images of home shops. (For more on this topic, click here.) The Home Craftsman click here for a pdf of selected pages of Volume 1, No. 1 1931 Home Craftsman,edited by Harry Hobbs, lasted from 1931 to 1965, and at one time -- inthe 1950s -- boasted a subscription list of over 200,000 subscribers. HomeCraftsman startedwith six issues per year, without advertising, but slowly evolved intoa monthly magazine, directed at the home owner -- with home improvementarticles -- and the amateur woodworker. (Judging from the numerous letters, Home Craftsmanwas also a hit with those woodworkers who claimed that their income was derived from woodworking.)
Manual - Popular Woodworking Magazine
Chris Schwarz is an outstanding writer and editor of the two best woodworking magazines I read. He has a tremendous blog site associated with WoodWorking magazine chock full of useful information, with an an entire section devoted to Western saws. Be sure to read his excellent article posted on this blog, 'Understanding Western Backsaws,' a definitive review of how western saws work, their history, and why they have staged a remarkable comeback in light of the Japanese pull saw success in recent years.
Leif Hanson runs an incredibly useful web site with outstanding procedurals amplified by professional-level graphics that underscore the 'how to' factor for woodworking in general, and how to rehabilitate old tools in particular. I have found his site an incredibly reliable source of information when I find myself butting my head up against the wall. Leif regularly updates his popular blog, and you will do well to bookmark this page in your favorites folder. 041b061a72