Alba Shaper

[MikeAParticipant @mikea]

I have an Alba 1AS which was originally built in the 1930s. The machine would have been driven by a line shaft via flat belting. Unfortunately the clutch operating mechanism was not fitted to this machine but a number of the necessary parts are, such as the cone clutch (both members bolted together) and a hollow drive shaft which would accommodate the actuation rod for the clutch, the lever end having a blanking plug. I have a good idea how the clutch mechanism would work but as I am currently refurbishing the machine I would like to replicate the original design. I currently have a parts list for a later Alba1A but the clutch mechanism is different. My machine is the same as the black and white photographs 0n the Lathes website
http://www.lathes.co.uk/shapers/
Can anyone help.

[MikeAParticipant @mikea]

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

On most lineshaft machinery I'v had anything to do with have a fast and loose pully system, rather than a clutch. Ian S C

[davebParticipant @daveb17630]

Mike, I have an early Alba 1A with clutch, there are 2 levers on the right side (viewed from the front). The horizontal lever selects high/low gear (push/pull), the other lever (raise/lower) operates the clutch via a cam and push rod. I don't have any paperwork for the machine but would be happy to photograph and measure the parts. Strange picture on Tony Griffiths website, can anyone here see how the machine is powered? Dave.

[MikeAParticipant @mikea]

Dave, The Alba 1A shown on the Lathes website is exactly the same as my machine and was designed to be driven by flat belts from line shafts as this was the norm for driving machine tools in the early part of the century (ie no electric motor). Has your machine the same clutch and speed change levers as the photograph as the later models have a different layout, if it is the same I would appreciate photographs of the various components making up the clutch assembly especially the lever end and the actuation rod.

Thanks mike

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

I think Mike is referring to the picture that shows a downward pointing lever situatied higher up on th ebody than the other picture.

I can see that a shaper would like a clutch for fast disconnect at the end of a stroke that could not be achieved with the fast/loose pulley. This would allow a single stroke to take off another thou. Actually better control than what most people have with their modern electric one.

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

The flat belts were still used in the school workshop in Dunedin (NZ) where I went to school, the line shafts were powered by a large (and very old) electric motor, the only machine that had it's own motor was the (then band new) Chipmaster, they wouldn't let us play with it. Can't remember which make of shaper was there, I can only just remember using it, and the old Harrisons (they dated back to the beginning of the century). Origionally the workshop was powered by steam. Ian S C

[davebParticipant @daveb17630]

Mike, the levers on my machine are the same. I will post requested photos, this may take a few days. I don't know if you are fairly local to me but I do not have any use for this machine (I took it home to stop it going in a skip), if you can use it for parts, you are welcome to it.

Bazyle, I'm fairly sure all shapers had clutches, would be very difficult to operate without. I know the old boys used to apply downfeed with the machine running but a clutch is essential to stop the ram while someone fetches a tourniquet.

Ian, I remember visiting a factory with my dad, probably about 60 years ago, shafts and belts everywhere, noisy beyond belief, frightened the living daylights out of me – probably still would!

Dave

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

Your right about the belts every where, didn't seem to scare us kids, or if it did no one admitted to it. A year or two after I left the school in 1963, it was closed, and moved to new "state of the art" technical collage. I think there was one engineering shop in Dunedin at the time that still had line shafts. If you know no better, they arn't any trouble at all, but some one used to modern self contained machines would proberbly die of fright, or at least call up the H&S man. Ian S C sorry getting OT

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