Are these Flexispeed accessories?

[Adrian R2Participant @adrianr2]

Can anyone tell me if the items below are accessories for this Flexispeed, or if they have just been put in the same box because they are painted a similar hammered blue.

A is an angle bracket, but doesn't seem to fit anywhere on the lathe.

B might be a riser, it is the same width as saddle; doesn't appear to fit tailstock.

Bolt holes on vice C are on same centres as A but different diameters.

Thanks in advance for any help.

(p.s. I do have the lathe cross slide but it was removed in this photo)

[Adrian R2Participant @adrianr2]

[Neil AParticipant @neila]

The angle plate (A) and the small machine vice (C) look to be the same as the ones I got for my Flexispeed from the Norfolk Lathe & Tool Co when they were being made in North Walsham. The angle plate is a bit crudely made but the vice was machined all over.

I don't know what the block (B) is, as you say, from the paint it is associated with the lathe. Judging from size and the single hole it could fit on top of the compound slide instead of the tool holder. But what you would use it for I don't know, maybe as a pivot for a hand held tool?

Item (D) could be homemade clamps for the face plate, but I'm guessing there. Item (E) I have not a clue!

I hope someone else with a Flexspeed can provide some more answers.

Neil

[Adrian R2Participant @adrianr2]

Thanks for the reply Neil – do (A) and (C) give some vertical slide capability? If so where do you mount them?

(B) pivot for a hand held tool, interesting idea, I wonder what the tool holder would have looked like. Re-examining the bits again last night I noticed that the small hole has a spring inside it – some sort of pin or ball detent?

Adrian

[Neil AParticipant @neila]

I'm afraid my memory is a little bit hazy on how exactly I arranged the angle plate and vice, it's been over 40 years since I last used then. They got put away when I acquired other tooling. The lathe still gets used on the odd occasion just to make sure it still works, but just for very simple turning jobs now.

I think that I bolted the angle plate directly to the cross slide tee slot and then the vice to the angle plate. This would have given very limited and not very accurate vertical adjustment. I cannot remember if I managed to arrange any fine vertical adjustment, if I did it was probably some lash up using the compound slide as I had nothing else in those days.

The block (B) is still a bit of a puzzle to me, I can only speculate on its use now that you say there could be a locating detent in the face.

I'm sorry not to be more helpful, I just wish that I could remember more clearly just how I did.

Neil

[Adrian R2Participant @adrianr2]

Thanks, it's useful at least to know that these are intended for use with the lathe. I've found a picture now that also shows the lathe with the angle bracket and a fully machined vice as you describe. It also had a proper vertical slide but looks like that was an option. I hadn't thought of trying to remount the cross slide, will have to look at that again.

Likewise I haven't use this for anything for a while but would still like to know what I've got.

Adrian

[John HaineParticipant @johnhaine32865]

Is it missing a topslide? That may go on the angle bracket, on the crosslide, with the vice on the topslide. Similar arrangement to the Hobbymat.

[Adrian R2Participant @adrianr2]

I've got the compound/topslide, however no holes in it that will line up with the either the angle bracket or vice.

Adrian

Edited By Adrian R2 on 13/08/2020 10:56:42

[bugbear6502Participant @bugbear6502]

(sorry I'm late, google led me here)

Is (B) a solid toolpost, a replacement for the compound?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pG3YSfgyJPI

Let's face it, this little lathe needs all the rigidity it can get hold of!

BugBear

Edited By bugbear6502 on 25/07/2021 12:20:44

[bernard towersParticipant @bernardtowers37738]

Blimey Neil that was a long time ago, I’m a norwich boy and have a hard job remembering that!

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