Schools often have high quality gear, though it may be old. There is a newer generation of woodworking machinery, the best is out of Europe now, and costs an arm and a leg.. The old cast iron gear is still very useful. The newer equipment is quieter with greater precision. Moving the jointer fence and it stays square, for example. Little things that make a difference, but not so essential. I think that Northfield may be the only one left in the states for some heavy duty high grade woodworking machinery, one left where there once were many.