Antique lathe thoughts comments questions wanted

[ebinmaine 74,944]

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 10,264]

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 62,577]

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 10,264]

29 minutes ago, lynnmor said:

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

What a spoilsport!!

[ri702bill 10,264]

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 10,264]

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 4 hours ago by ri702bill

[gwest_ca-(File Mod) 11,776]

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

[8ntruck 8,246]

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 2 hours ago by 8ntruck

[ri702bill 10,264]

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.