STRAITOPLANE IS THE SOURCE FOR OLD OLIVER PARTS
JENNIFER HICKS – JAN 31, 2023 – WOODSHOP News
Shops with woodworking machinery from Oliver Machinery, produced in the 20th century, should be aware of Straitoplane Machine Inc. in Hughesville, Pa.
Straitoplane Machine is a newer entity, formed after RT Machine Co. and RT Machine Service purchased Eagle Machinery & Repair Inc. and Straitoplane Inc., two parts distribution companies previously based in Michigan, in March 2022 to become the world’s sole distributor of pre-1999 Oliver woodworking machinery replacement parts.
“We have all the parts inventoried, old blueprints to manufacture parts off of them, and all the documentation which shows original buyer and seller of almost all machines from Oliver that were made from around 1906 to 1999,” says Jon Bradford, the parts and service coordinator at Straitoplane Machine.
Replacement parts can be purchased from the company’s website at straitoplane.com.
Straitoplane Machine also provides service for older Oliver machines including its namesake, the Straitoplane, a combination planer/jointer introduced in 1923. Bradford describes the Straitoplane as a double-sided planer, 18” to 36” wide, with two cutterheads, and one of the machines Oliver was best known for.
Oliver Machinery continues to make new machinery, such as sanders, table saws, drill presses, jointers, planers, and dust collection systems, with more information available at olivermachinery.net.
This article was originally published in the February 2023 issue.
RT MACHINE COMPANY AND RT MACHINE SERVICE ACQUIRE MICHIGAN-BASED PARTS DISTRIBUTION COMPANIES
HUGHESVILLE, PA (March 8, 2022)—RT Machine Company and RT Machine Service today announced the purchase of Eagle Machinery & Repair, Inc. and Straitoplane, Inc. to become the world’s sole distributor of pre-1999 Oliver woodworking machinery replacement parts.
The new entity, Straitoplane Machine, Inc., will complement the existing Pennsylvania-based companies who have become leaders in the woodworking machinery repair and support sectors and currently house the largest inventory of new and used woodworking machinery in North America. With over $2 million in existing inventory, Straitoplane Machine, Inc. is prepared to meet the needs of customers across the globe.
“This acquisition has afforded us a unique opportunity to support an iconic American machinery brand while also offering onsite service and offsite reconditioning. We are excited that we can maintain the manufacturing of these genuine replacement parts here in the USA and will be able to produce almost any component thanks to historical records dating back to 1907.”
– Derek Krehling, Vice President, Straitoplane Machine, Inc.
The operations and inventory of Straitoplane Machine, Inc. have been fully transitioned to the Hughesville, PA facility, and a brand-new ecommerce site has been developed to highlight existing product inventory and to offer a convenient method for customers to purchase replacement parts. The new website can be found at straitoplane.com.