Antique lathe thoughts comments questions wanted

[ebinmaine 74,949]

There's a fairly slim chance I would be able to go get this because of bad timing with days off and availability but I'm curious about it just the same.

 

It's covered with wood dust so obviously somebody's been using it for wood but I also see a dial indicator. If you look on one of the lower shelves it looks like maybe there's a chuck for holding something like a metal shaft? I was just wondering if anybody could tell me what the original usage would have been? Metal or wood? Or is there such a thing as a multi or Universal usage lathe?

 

 

 

 

[Achto 30,032]

Looks like a metal lathe to me. I see a 4 jaw chuck and some other tooling under it. Would be nice to know what is all there and if it is slopped out at all. Not sure why the motor is mounted on the wood post.  Looks big and heavy. 

[ri702bill 10,266]

I disagree - wood lathe. I do not see either a front mounted leadscrew or a method (change gears or selector gearbox) to select the pitch of the thread you wish to cut. Ditto, no compound slide for cutting threads.

Cas would identify the Forstner type driver bit in the chuck for turning wooden spindles. The "original" 1/2 HP or so electric motor is still mounted behind it. A 2HP motor is overkill - unless the original was 3400 RPM and the larger one is 1725. Shift the V belt to the one of your choice... Bear (pun intended!) in mind it is not 110 volts either - and not a convertible 110 / 220 either.

 I said "original" about the motor.  Usually on a machine of its age with a high-top mounted step pulley, it could have been truly driven by a 10 foot flat belt from an overhead line shaft that ran the length of the mill. That shaft would have been powered by either a waterfall or turbine. Interesting piece of local history, but not what I would call a lifetime investment....

[gwest_ca-(File Mod) 11,776]

http://vintagemachinery.org/mfgIndex/detail.aspx?id=1012&tab=4

[953 nut 62,579]

The spur drive and live center are wood lathe items and the four jaw chuck would be used in turning bowls. 

[Achto 30,032]

 

Found an add from when the last person bought it, 8yrs ago.

https://www.hobby-machinist.com/threads/old-f-e-reed-14-inch-metal-lathe.55201/

 

I still think it was for metal. Thread cutting capable or not, I have not seen a wood lathe with power lateral & cross movement.

[lynnmor 8,144]

It's a metal lathe, but I wouldn't invest in it.  Get a more modern one with tread cutting and at least some attempt to safely cover gears and belts.

[ri702bill 10,266]

29 minutes ago, lynnmor said:

and at least some attempt to safely cover gears and belts.

What a spoilsport!!

[ri702bill 10,266]

51 minutes ago, gwest_ca said:

http://vintagemachinery.org/mfgIndex/detail.aspx?id=1012&tab=4

That is the metal lathe version - with the half-nut and the pitch counter dial..

 

[ri702bill 10,266]

A couple more - look at the heavy reduction in the primary v belt drive - about 5:1 or so. The oilcup on top of the bearing housing and the split clamp tell me it might Babbitt, not ball bearings like a model T Ford. Same era.... Definitely a low RPM device. But, if that old timer could talk, it would have a distinct Yankee accent.. 

 

Edited 8 hours ago by ri702bill

[gwest_ca-(File Mod) 11,776]

More

http://vintagemachinery.org/pubs/detail.aspx?id=18244

[8ntruck 8,248]

Looks like a metal lathe to me.  

 

I'm going to guess that the original owner ran that lathe from an overhead line shaft.

 

My dad mentioned a lession he learned about running a line shaft driven piece of equipment - always keep one hand on the machine frame when moving the leather drive belt to change speeds.  If one doesn't,  one will experience a static discharge when they touch the machine.

Edited 7 hours ago by 8ntruck

[ri702bill 10,266]

Had a chance to watch the engagement & disengagement of the drive belts from an overhead lineshaft years ago. This guy has the Cadillac of mechanisms - a pull rope to engage the drive sheave.

I ones I saw were more "Old School" - he used a 10 foot wooden pole with a hook at the end to walk the belt onto or off of the pulley!! Not my idea of fun.

 

 

[formariz 12,345]

It is one of their larger so called “ engine lathe”. It is a metal lathe. It is from the early 1900s. One however with sometimes needed modifications can use just about any metal lathe for wood the same however not many times being able to be so with a wood lathe for metal. As for getting it depends on the price and one’s affinity for old machinery . If it has Babbitt bearings most likely they have to be “repoured “.  Not a difficult job but requires a little knowledge on subject. Definitely an eye catching awesome thing to look at like all machinery from that period. A period of great human ingenuity and quality work that as seen here still functions as it designed to do. To me they have a unique “presence” that immediately draws one’s attention. 
 

 The motor is of course a modern one but perhaps one of the best motors ever made in this country. To me any American made Baldor or Marathon of the period of that one is far superior from anything in that category that you buy today. 
 

 When one comes across something like that in someone’s shop that is pretty much intact, look around at everything else. That is not an ordinary individual that uses something like that. You may be surprised at all the other treasures he has. It all tells a story as to what type of individual he was ( or hopefully still is). 

Edited 3 hours ago by formariz

[squonk 44,741]

Here's a question:

 

What would you plan on doing with it besides hanging your hiking clothes to dry? 

[ebinmaine 74,949]

39 minutes ago, squonk said:

Here's a question:

 

What would you plan on doing with it besides hanging your hiking clothes to dry? 

 

 

Now just stop bein' silly.... hiking clothes do NOT hang in the workshop areas. 

 

Tents though.... ⛺️ 

Maybeeeeee 

 

 

I have very limited use for a metal lathe but if I found one for a very reasonable price it would be handy occasionally.

Two tasks in particular...

Making tie rods. Repair axle grooves. 

 

After that it's a bonus for whatever...

 

And it would be more than just me using it. 

[kpinnc 15,937]

Buying a lathe can be a pain. A decent machine is hard to find, but tooling prices are insane. 

 

If the owner doesn't have a boat load of tooling, I'd keep looking. Just my opinion. 

 

For hobby grade stuff a cheapo lathe is good enough. Where you're gonna struggle is finding one that can pass through 1.125 axles. Mine will only handle 3/4. 

 

 The good news is there are oodles of available upgrades for the newer stuff and the sky is the limit on what you want to do with them. 

 

Good luck which ever way you decide. A lathe is a very useful thing to have.