Delta

Like many long-established companies, Delta lives the American dream that came true for Herbert Tautz, the company's founder, back in 1919. Working out of his one-car garage in Milwaukee, Wis., Tautz set out to design and build new tools that solved the difficult challenges of woodworking. He named his business, "The Delta Specialty Company."

Just a few years later, Tautz invented Delta's first breakthrough product in 1923. Labeled the "American Boy," this innovation was the world's first scroll saw. Although it was built for hand-operated use in 8" and 12" sizes, this unit paved the way for the electric-powered scroll saws in the future.

Delta launched is second innovation in 1928. It was called the HandiShop, which consisted of a Wagner-grade motor, a steel bed lathe, a disc sander, and a scroll saw. This product sold for $99.50 upon its introduction, which was a significant investment for that day. Despite the cost, it quickly became one of the most popular home workshop items in America. A 4" jointer/8"circular saw combination unit followed just one year later.

As the country reached the height of the depression, Delta continued to forge ahead with new product introductions. The early 1930s proved to be a critical time in the company's history because Delta began focusing on band saws as one of its core products. Its first band saw, a 12" unit, was launched in 1930. Shortly thereafter, the momentum began as a 10" band saw rolled out, which was followed by the introduction of the venerable Delta 14" band saw. Although today's 14" band saws are more advanced, their appearance is very similar to the original design, which was launched in 1934.

During an era where woodworking publications didn't exist, Delta found a way to connect with its end-users by creating a journal called the Deltagram. This publication contained woodworking plans, tool talk, and techniques for aspiring woodworkers at all skill levels. Many of today's woodworking magazines still publish original plans from this journal, which was sent monthly for more than four decades. Today, collectors search E-Bay for old copies while the Smithsonian Institution collects them in its archived file for the Science and Industry section.

Delta Tools Categories: Air Cleaners, Blades, Drill Presses, Dust Collectors, Grinders, Jointers, Lathes, Mortisers, Planers, Reconditioned Tools, Sanders, Saws, Shaper Cutters, Shapers, Stock Feeders & Accessories.