1954 Northfield 16HD 16 inch Jointer with Byrd Shelix cutter head
5 HP, 3 Phase, 220/440v (currently wired 220v) Direct Drive Motor
Good original switch and electronics.
Runs astonishingly quietly and tables operate very smoothly.
You can carry on a conversation while running a wide Ash board across it.
New Byrd Shelix head with very low hours has 9 rows of blades, each with 16 inserts, for a total of 144 individual shearing blades.
It produces the smoothest surface I have seen from a helical head even on highly figured wood with no chip-out and no “scalloping” such as you see on smaller helical head machines. Surface is perfect with minimal sanding.
Also has new bearings.
Spoked ships-wheel in-feed adjustment has new wooden handles.
dimensions are approximately:
96" x 21" surface area
52" infeed table
43" outfeed table
32-1/2" tall
52" fence
1825 lbs
Tables and fence are true and smooth.
All raising and lowering mechanisms work well.
Since this is a vintage machine there are some imperfections in paint, blemishes and staining and minor pitting from use and age.
According to Northfield, which is still in business and still supports all parts for this machine, this jointer was originally purchased for use in a U.S. Navy pattern-making shop in Alabama. Hence the original grey color.
It has been fully refurbished with all genuine Northfield parts and guards and a new Shelix Head from Byrd. Northfield still makes this same jointer. The new version with the Shelix head from them is $24,000.

This machine is listed for sale by Worth Squire Furniture located in College Grove, Tennessee