Not quite a lathe, but what is it?

This topic has 9 replies, 7 voices, and was last updated 15 May 2019 at 07:47 by Hopper.

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14 May 2019 at 21:12 #409275
clivel
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@clivel
This item for sale on a local web site is listed as a "Small metal lathe", it clearly is not.

It looks like the headstock and tailstock are intended to be coupled together by means of the countershaft and serrated belts.

I am curious as to what it actually might be. Any thoughts ?
Thanks,
Clive
Advert

14 May 2019 at 21:12 #35472
clivel
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@clivel
14 May 2019 at 21:23 #409277
Andrew Tinsley
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@andrewtinsley63637
Could well be a small glass lathe.

Andrew.
14 May 2019 at 23:01 #409285
ken king, King Design
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@kenkingkingdesign
I have no idea, but I'm itching to find out. Come on, somebody !
15 May 2019 at 02:03 #409289
Blue Heeler
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@blueheeler
Its very interesting, that's for sure.
15 May 2019 at 06:57 #409296
David Colwill
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@davidcolwill19261
I'm not sure either but I have a strange desire to buy it.

This must be some kind of as yet unclassified mental illness and I suspect there are others on this forum that suffer from it.

Do you have piles of random junk scattered here there and everywhere?

Perhaps we could form some kind of self help group.

David.
15 May 2019 at 07:12 #409300
Plasma
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@plasma
Looks to me like an armature lathe, not sure why it would need the counter shaft driven tail stock, but the tail stock end does look like an armature lathe set up.

If it's not one of them then I'm stuck.
15 May 2019 at 07:12 #409301
Hopper
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@hopper
Posted by Andrew Tinsley on 14/05/2019 21:23:58:

Could well be a small glass lathe.

Andrew.

So 'tis indeed. A very small one. Used to weld two pieces of glass together etc as they both rotate at the same speed and are heated with a blowtorch. With the tiny chucks and fixed cross slide position it almost looks like it's made for one specific job. No idea what that might be. Bead making? Scientific glassware making? ???

Edited By Hopper on 15/05/2019 07:16:06

Edited By Hopper on 15/05/2019 07:25:09
15 May 2019 at 07:42 #409306
clivel
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@clivel
Posted by Hopper on 15/05/2019 07:12:13:

Posted by Andrew Tinsley on 14/05/2019 21:23:58:

Could well be a small glass lathe.

Andrew.

So 'tis indeed. A very small one. Used to weld two pieces of glass together etc as they both rotate at the same speed and are heated with a blowtorch. With the tiny chucks and fixed cross slide position it almost looks like it's made for one specific job. No idea what that might be. Bead making? Scientific glassware making? ???

Thanks Andrew and Hopper, that does seem to be the most likely explanation.

Posted by David Colwill on 15/05/2019 06:57:44:

I'm not sure either but I have a strange desire to buy it.

I must admit, it appeals to me too, not sure why though, but the asking price at $300 Canadian is a little too steep, especially for something I don't really have any use for

Clive
15 May 2019 at 07:47 #409309
Hopper
Participant
@hopper
He'd probably get that price if he labelled it as a glass blowing lathe. Seems to be quite a following for the hobby and guys making their own machines out of TAIG metal lathes or using two stepper motors, one at each end etc. I can't see any way it would be useful as a metal lathe though. Sure looks neat. Obviously commercially made. Glass blowing would be a whole rabbit hole of its own though…
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