How old is this jigsaw?

Steve · 27 Aug 2013

My Grandad (in his 80's) recently tried to give me his old jigsaw. Needless to say, I declined . . . mainly because I already have one, but also because I don't fancy my chances with this!

Untitled

Steve
27 Aug 2013
1

Untitled

Steve
27 Aug 2013
1

Any ideas of the years of manufacture? I suspect it's older than me!

big-all · 27 Aug 2013

i have a router and its dated 1984
in the then new blue guise
i would guess its mid 70s when drills where in coloured segments motor section one colour 2 speed section another hammer section another
a sort off mix and match

DARTHVADER · 27 Aug 2013

Hi,

I worked for B&D service centers 1986 to 1998 and in 1986 it was ancient then !

Is it metal cased ? though it states double insulated, so perhaps not.

There was a metal cased and earthed version of this and I wouldn't dare use that outside in light drizzle !

Norcon · 28 Aug 2013

The case is plastic.
I think it was manufactured around 1983.

mattylad · 28 Aug 2013

It will however, outlast your modern one and keep going... lol

DARTHVADER · 28 Aug 2013

It certainly will !!

The metal case version was almost identical & I'm sure was early seventies production !

Steve · 28 Aug 2013

This must have been back when b&d used to make decent tools! One thing I found interesting was the frequency on the spec plate of 25-60hz. Why was this? Did we used to have a variety of frequencies?

DARTHVADER · 28 Aug 2013

Good spot ! not sure, perhaps something to do with UK generators at that time?

loply · 28 Aug 2013

I'm no expert but I notice the box describes it as a 3" saw, ie it's not in metric.

As far as I know metrication of industrial sectors in the UK was complete by 1980, with most companies switching during the 70s.

Whether that means your saw was made prior to 1980 I couldn't say though.

Dave54 · 28 Aug 2013

My dad had the metal version, silver coloured IIRC. It actually wasn't a bad tool, and endured many years of use and abuse. That must have been an early to mid 60s version. I inherited a similar one from my late father-in law. That's the blue plastic they were still using in the early to mid 80s. Still got it somewhere. That one would be early to mid 70s.

So I'd have a guess at late 60s for this one.

Just as an aside, the UK has been 50Hz since the national grid started. They guarantee it at that plus or minus a small percentage, as a lot of machinery and equipment relies on it for the correct speed etc. Mains electric clocks in particular.
They don't guarantee the voltage. That's "nominal".

mattylad · 28 Aug 2013

I had the old metal version B&D drill, got rid of it when I was given a nice new plastic case one.

That was my first mistake.... The new one burnt out very quickly - nothing to dissipate the heat IMO.

Should have kept the old one.

skotl · 30 Aug 2013

I had an almost identical B&D jigsaw that came as a saw & sander set, which my parents gave me for xmas. But they were blue.

I also still have (!!) a B&D drill with that exact same browny-colour body. That drill (now) permanently has a wire wheel on it and I use it for light buffing / scraping.

So, I would have got the drill around my 13th birthday (1979) and the jigsaw a couple of years later.

So I'd place it around 1980.

spannerzone · 31 Aug 2013

Steve said:
This must have been back when b&d used to make decent tools! One thing I found interesting was the frequency on the spec plate of 25-60hz. Why was this? Did we used to have a variety of frequencies?

Possibly for exports? a very few countries seem to use 220v 60Hz or thereabouts.

http://www.worldstandards.eu/electricity.htm

Dave54 · 31 Aug 2013

spannerzone said:
Steve said:

This must have been back when b&d used to make decent tools! One thing I found interesting was the frequency on the spec plate of 25-60hz. Why was this? Did we used to have a variety of frequencies?

Click to expand...

Possibly for exports? a very few countries seem to use 220v 60Hz or thereabouts.

http://www.worldstandards.eu/electricity.htm[/QUOTE]

Could be for export, but you used to see that colour tools at car boots etc. Probably still do, I don't go to as many these days. The 25-60 Hz is a bit of a red herring IMO. Power tools mostly use "universal" motors, which will theoretically run on pretty well any frequency. This is basically telling the user that this is AC only and the acceptable range of frequency, which covers what might be found anywhere, and might come from a non standard private generator for instance.

To the OP, is there any dated copyright notice on the box, or on the instructions if they're still there? It might be tiny if there is.

streetlighter · 1 Sep 2013

I would age this saw as early 70s to late 70s i collect vintage Black&Decker power tools.
I would say its probably a better made more reliable product than the modern version and safe enough to use.
I would however be interested in buying the saw for my collection if you are interested ?

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How old is this jigsaw?

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