Funny that there was a post just before this about a Wallace shaper asking almost the same question...
Anyway, I bought a nice old shaper this week at an auction for next to nothing. It's big and REALLY heavy (~1000 lbs.) It has very little in the way of identifying marks other than "Matthews" molded in large letters into the cast-iron base. I didn't measure the spindle, but the bearings are marked as 1 1/16" which seems about right. It's got a big honkin' Delco 3-phase motor, too.
My question is this: Anybody ever hear of Matthews? I DAGS and came up empty. Not even the Old Woodworking Tools website mentions anything about them.
BTW, at the same auction a sweet Faye and Egan 16" jointer went for $150, along with a truly massive 36" planer for the same price. Unbelievable deals.
Josh