Britannia Lathes – Home needed

This topic has 7 replies, 7 voices, and was last updated 23 January 2015 at 21:26 by Graham Heald 2.

Viewing 8 posts - 1 through 8 (of 8 total)

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31 October 2012 at 20:19 #102407
Steve Withnell
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@stevewithnell34426
Does anyone want a Britannia lathe? (or 2).

One resembles a No.16 and was bought by my great grandfather sometime before 1912. The other resembles a No.2 which I think was used for turning patterns for castings. I think the treadle is about somewhere.

The "No 16" is currently set up and running, with new lead screws for the top and cross sllides..

If there is any interest please PM and I'll get some photo's together. Otherwise they are bound for a fiery furnace (probably in China !)

Steve
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31 October 2012 at 20:19 #22293
Steve Withnell
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@stevewithnell34426
1 November 2012 at 10:58 #102449
Ian S C
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@iansc
Hi Steve, if you were a little nearer, I'd grab them, one at least would go to our museum( by the way if anyone in Canterbury NZ is interested we have an open day this comming Sunday, and again in two weeks), I'd like a treddle powered lathe in our tool collection.

Surely there is an industrial museum somewhere in UK that would take them, too much of this stuff getting sold to scrap. Ian S C
1 November 2012 at 13:16 #102454
Bazyle
Participant
@bazyle
Where are you Steve? Perhaps people can ask around their clubs to see if any members need something, I recently passed on a 110 yr old lathe for restoration that I had rescued from another club member 5 years ago. It was very gratefully received so it is worth saving these things where possible.

If it has to be scrapped at least save some parts – eg change wheels are often needed by someone and cross slide upwards can be used by an ornamental turner.
6 November 2012 at 08:57 #102948
Jonathan Howes
Participant
@jonathanhowes93303
Hi Steve,

Do you have the treadle for the number 16? If so I could be interested as I seem to have a tendency to run an unnofficial semi-retirement home for ancient but interesting machinery. Currently I have an ex-navy battleship Britannia treadle lathe (must have had very fit midshipman) so another one of more modest proportions would be very interesting.

Jon Howes
6 November 2012 at 09:57 #102953
KWIL
Participant
@kwil
Steve, There is a very good industrial museum in Halifax. the home of the British machine tool industry (or at least it was the home once), try them.
13 November 2012 at 16:00 #103575
Tim Sharp
Participant
@timsharp21693
steve , new to the forum , just picked up your thread , have you still got treadle lathes , and where in country are you , as i still use a treadle lathe and i am looking for another
23 January 2015 at 21:26 #177051
Graham Heald 2
Participant
@grahamheald2
All very late – but I have an all but coplete No 16 (I think – bolt-on lead screw brackets) Britannia lathe. I lack the gears (small and bull) off the headstock. No pulley either but that is easily solved. I have been searching eBay for years without success. The machine was going for scrap when I intercepted it and cleaned it up. Not sure how much I need it but damned if I will let it die. Anyone got any useful (inexpensive) suggestions? At the least I would like to know what the design of the bull wheel was. The dimensions from my machine are:

Bed width overall 6-1/8”
Gap between slideways 1-1/2”
Headstock casting length 9-1/8”
Headstock casting width 5-3/8”
Gap length 7”
Centre height 4-1/2”
Swing in gap (radius) 8-1/2”
Centre dist main to back-gear shaft 3-5/8”
52 tooth back gear dia 5-1/2”
18 tooth back gear dia. 2”

I think the missing gears will be the same diameter as the back-gear ones.

Graham Heald
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