I don’t recognise the castings, Brian … but the bed profile has the generic style of the ‘Webster Whitcomb’ design which was standardised amongst the American factories.

The only clue I have found so far is mention [in 1908] of LANGENDORF WATCH CO.

Good luck with it … it should be very useful

MichaelG.

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Edit: I think Langendorf is probably a ‘Red Herring’

**LINK**

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 07/11/2020 07:20:09

I'd approach the question by nailing down what the lathe is going to be used for first. What's "better" depends on purpose and context.

That style of lathe is emphatically aimed at the small precision hand operations associated with clock, watch and instrument making. Shaping and burnishing tiny spindles rather than hacking metal.

Some differences from general-purpose machines:

• Small, allowing close access to work, maybe with the operator wearing a loupe
• High speed (up to 10000rpm), low power and low metal removal rate
• Emphasis on accuracy (well-made, low run-out )
• Many hand operations rather than tool-post supported cutting
• Dozens of small Collets, with chucks secondary, if at all
• Specialised accessories galore
• No screw-cutting, reverse, or power traverse

Round belts are well suited to watchmaking-type work. Easy to swap between pulleys, quiet, and able to slip safely if there's a dig-in. V belts transfer more power, but are harder to swap between pulleys, and power isn't needed or wanted for fine delicate work. Toothed belts don't slip but there's no advantage to a watchmaker in that either, and they whine at high speed.

On the other hand, conversion into a small plain turning lathe with a bit of beef could be very useful for certain jobs. For that, I'd go for V, but a saddle and cross-slide would be my priority rather than belts.

Dave