Delta 10″ Tilt Table Saw Model 1160: A Prewar Masterpiece of Precision
Introduction
The Delta Model 1160 10″ Tilt Table Saw is one of Delta’s earliest full-size table saws, representing the company’s transition from compact Homecraft machines to industrial-quality woodworking equipment. Introduced in the mid-1930s, this cast-iron powerhouse offered remarkable precision and smoothness for its time — features that would later define Delta’s reputation for excellence.
Unlike the later tilting-arbor Unisaws that came after 1939, the 1160 featured a tilting table design, where the work surface pivots rather than the blade assembly. This early configuration offered rock-solid stability and set the stage for Delta’s future innovations in table saw design.
History of the Delta Model 1160
The Delta 1160 was introduced during the Great Depression, a period when Delta was expanding its Milwaukee-based product line to include both small Homecraft tools and industrial-grade machinery. The 1160 was the company’s top-of-the-line tilt table saw, capable of cutting stock up to 3″ thick with its 10″ blade — impressive performance for its era.
This saw was sold through woodworking supply houses and early Delta catalogs in the mid to late 1930s, often paired with the Delta 1161 motor drive unit and No. 260 stand. It was replaced in the late 1930s by the revolutionary Delta Unisaw Model 34-400, which introduced the tilting-arbor concept.
Manufacturer Background
Founded in 1919 by Herbert Tautz in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the Delta Specialty Company revolutionized small woodworking machines with precision-cast components and tight machining tolerances. By the mid-1930s, Delta had become America’s leading producer of small shop tools, and the Model 1160 exemplified its dedication to quality craftsmanship.
The saw was produced before Delta’s acquisition by Rockwell Manufacturing Company in 1945, making it part of the “Delta-Milwaukee” prewar era that collectors value most.
Design and Features of the 1160
The Delta 1160 was engineered as a heavy-duty yet compact woodworking saw, offering high accuracy and smooth operation. Its tilt-table design made bevel and miter cuts simple while maintaining blade alignment throughout the cut.
Key Features:
- 10″ blade capacity with 3″ depth of cut at 90°
- Tilting cast-iron table (up to 45°) for bevel cutting
- Stationary arbor assembly with precision bearings
- 1 – 1½ HP belt-driven motor, typically 1725 RPM
- Cast-iron base, trunnions, and fence rails
- Precision machined miter slots
- Early Delta rip fence and miter gauge
- Optional steel stand or enclosed cabinet base
The 1160’s tilt-table mechanism provided extremely rigid blade alignment — a hallmark of Delta’s early engineering.
Usage and Applications
During its production years, the Delta 1160 was considered a professional-grade saw suitable for:
- Cabinet and furniture making
- Joinery and fine trim work
- Pattern and model making
- School and small industrial workshops
It was used by both craftsmen and educational institutions, where its durability and accuracy made it ideal for daily operation.
Restoring the Delta Model 1160
Restoring a 1160 is an achievable and highly rewarding process. Most surviving examples remain mechanically sound thanks to Delta’s prewar metallurgy and casting quality.
Typical restoration steps include:
- Cleaning and lubricating the table tilt and trunnion mechanisms
- Replacing arbor bearings and drive belts
- Repainting in Delta gray or Delta-Milwaukee gray enamel
- Rewiring the motor and adding modern grounding
- Aligning table and fence to factory accuracy
Replacement bearings, belts, and reproduction decals are available from VintageMachinery.org, OWWM.org, and other Delta restoration suppliers.
Collectibility and Value
The Delta Model 1160 is a rare and desirable piece among collectors and vintage tool restorers. Its tilt-table design, prewar Delta-Milwaukee badging, and solid cast-iron build make it one of the most iconic early Delta machines.
Typical Values (2025):
- $400 – $800 – Working, unrestored condition
- $900 – $1,400+ – Fully restored examples with original Delta stand and motor
Machines retaining the original Delta-Milwaukee decal or Model 1160 badge plate are especially valuable.
Finding Manuals and Parts
Original Delta 1160 manuals and parts diagrams are preserved at VintageMachinery.org, including wiring guides and exploded component drawings.
Reproduction decals, cast badges, and fence parts can be sourced from Delta collector networks and specialty restoration shops.
From the Delta Power Tool Catalog
This Delta 1160 Table Saw was advertised as a real “man-sized” machine, with its husky 20 by 27 inch table, its sturdy tubular rip-fence guide bars and all the features that won such a reputation for the 8-inch saw plus it had greater capacity and added conveniences.
Designed for craftsman who needed and demanded the best there is in workshop equipment, this Delta No. 1160 Table Saw (10-inch) was built with just one thought in mind: To produce a saw that would offer more accuracy, more capacity, more conveniences, more built-in value than any similar saw on the market, regardless of price!That this object was been achieve was recognized by many mechanics and craftsman as soon as the No. 1160 saw was examined with care.
From the heavy-walled tubes that form the rip-fence guide bars, a full 1-3/8″ in diameter, and the stronger steel to resist bending and torsional stresses than any other section of equal weight to the hidden but important sold-forged alloy-steel arbor with its self-sealed ball bearings, every detail had been worked out to give the utmost satisfaction to the user.
The micro-set rip fence was carried on a heavy casting at the front, locked to the front guide bar by a neat cam lever with a Baklite ball handle. The rear lock was operatedfrom the front also, so that the hands never needed to be near the blade when locking the fence. And it was impossible for this fence to move or spring. The miter gage was the famout “Auto-Set” miter gage, with individual adjustments for 45 and 90 degree settings.
Crosscuts Stock 12 Inches Wide
From the saw blade to the front edge of the table the table surface measures 12-1/2″ wide, so that stock a full 12″ wide and 3-1/4″ thick could be cut easily, with full bearing on the table surface for both the workand the miter gage. And, in providing adequate surface in front of the blade, this was not done at the expense of the rear surface, for there are 5″ of table behind the blade to support the work as it leaves the saw.
Delta 1160 Table Saw No. 1160 – 10″ Ball-bearing Circular Saw, with “Auto-Set” miter gage, “Micro-set” rip fence, graduated front rip-gage guide bar and plain rear guide bar. Without motor, belt, moto pulley or saw guard… $49.85
Shipping weight 190 lbs.
No. 560 – V-belt (56″ inside circumference)… $1.00
No. 5500 – 5″ V-pulley for motor, 3/4″ bore… $.75
No. 1181 – Steel Stand (Top 16-1/4″ x 18-1/4″ x 26-5/8″ high)… $6.75
No. 1175 – 10″ Circular-Saw Unit, consisting of No. 1160 Circular Saw, no. 560 V-belt, No. 5500 V-pulley and No. 1181 Steel Stand. Without moto, switch rod or saw guard (Shipping weight 250 lbs.)… $58.35
Delta 1160 Table Saw Recommended Motors
No. 820 or No. 1120 motors were recommended for this saw for ordinary use. For heavy duty use, No. 922 or No. 994 3/4 H.P. motor is recommended. use No. 851 switch rod.
Conclusion
The Delta 10″ Tilt Table Saw Model 1160 is a stunning example of prewar American woodworking engineering. Built to last a lifetime, it showcases Delta’s precision craftsmanship and innovation during a formative era in power tool history.
Whether restored for use or displayed as a collector’s centerpiece, the 1160 remains one of the most significant and beautifully built machines in Delta’s early catalog.
Quick Reference Summary
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Model | Delta 1160 10″ Tilt Table Saw |
| Type | Tilt-table bench saw |
| Motor | 1 – 1½ HP belt-driven |
| Blade Size | 10 inches |
| Construction | Cast-iron table and base |
| Fence System | Early Delta parallel guide |
| Production Era | Mid-1930s – late 1930s |
| Origin | Milwaukee, Wisconsin USA (Delta Specialty Company) |
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