Old Lathe Set

[Joe Roberts]

I've been told this machine was bought by the local Shire Council way back in Nineteen Aught One:

http://inlinethumb44.webshots.com/45291/2832149890066664670S600x600Q85.jpg
As it might well have been, given the rust on it!

http://inlinethumb57.webshots.com/44984/2901386580066664670S600x600Q85.jpg
The electric motor over the headstock is a modern addition, as is the three jaw chuck:

http://inlinethumb46.webshots.com/45549/2232760450066664670S600x600Q85.jpg
It would originally have been driven by an overhead belt, no safety guards whatever of course, although as you can see, the carriage and leadscrew would be recognizable today.

They didn't put gearboxes on lathes back then:

http://inlinethumb06.webshots.com/36805/2706673710066664670S600x600Q85.jpg
Y'see, if you take a set of say twenty gears rising by fours or fives as is the usual custom, you have over three quarters of a million combinations. You don't get anywhere near as many if you shut 'em up in a modern Norton Box.

http://inlinethumb51.webshots.com/45042/2566651850066664670S600x600Q85.jpg
But from the look of that, I'd say the drill was to count how many fingers you had when you started and count them very carefully afterwards!
Joe

[dadodoron]

Hello Joe,

My nephew is an apprentice machinist and he bought a similar lathe when he was in Kalbarri. I drove up there with a car trailer to get it for him. He is determined to refurbish it and get it to working condition. It is in bits at the moment I will get a pic to show.