British empire lathe

[Spencer OrdParticipant @spencerord84987]

Hi guys.
Just thought I’d post a couple of pictures of my latest lathe. A British empire. Just started the strip down and rebuild.

Edited By Spencer Ord on 09/08/2018 16:28:01

[Spencer OrdParticipant @spencerord84987]

My latest lathe

[Nick Clarke 3Participant @nickclarke3]

Can't see the pictures

[NJHParticipant @njh]

Nick – you need to login to see the pictures.

Regards

Norman

[Bodger BrianParticipant @bodgerbrian]

Posted by NJH on 09/08/2018 23:54:15:

Nick – you need to login to see the pictures.

I'm logged in & I can't see them either. Normally I can see pictures in posts without needing to log in.

Brian

Edited By Bodger Brian on 10/08/2018 09:07:11

[nigel jones 5Participant @nigeljones5]

Defo no pictures

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

The pictures are in his album, not his post.

You don't need to be logged in.

[John HinkleyParticipant @johnhinkley26699]

I looked at those pictures and assumed – wrongly, it seems – that it was a different lathe as it was titled "Mellor lathe". Similarly, I assumed there were no pictures in the thread as there isn't really a British Empire anymore!

John

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by John Hinkley on 10/08/2018 10:07:35:

I looked at those pictures and assumed – wrongly, it seems – that it was a different lathe as it was titled "Mellor lathe".

.

I would concur with your original assumption, John

Probably only Spencer can clarify.

MichaelG.

[Spencer OrdParticipant @spencerord84987]

Hi guys. Sorry for the miss understanding. Those pictures are of my Mellor lathe.how do I upload pictures to the post.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by Spencer Ord on 10/08/2018 18:43:21:

… .how do I upload pictures to the post.

.

Start with this forum's most-needed FAQ : **LINK**

https://www.model-engineer.co.uk/forums/postings.asp?th=103028&p=1

MichaelG.

[Spencer OrdParticipant @spencerord84987]

I have made a new album. Empire lathe. I also uploaded some new pictures of my almost finished Mellor lathe

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

That's a great start … Now, if you wish to load them into a post, just use the camera icon on the top row of the posting window.

MichaelG.

[Spencer OrdParticipant @spencerord84987]

Ok that’s great. Cheers.

[davebParticipant @daveb17630]

I've seen a few Empire lathes over the years, some of them looking very much like South Bends, not sure about British though, I had a feeling they were made in Belgium. They all appeared to be decent quality machines. Dave

[Spencer OrdParticipant @spencerord84987]

Yes your correct. Although mine is badged as British empire they are a Dutch machine made by Elliott. Mine is complete. I managed to find an original fixed steady for it. Still trying to find a travelling steady.

[Clive FosterParticipant @clivefoster55965]

Had a Mk 2 version like that many years ago. Duff front bearing on mine which I had to change to get any sort of decent work out of it. Big Timken taper roller cost more than the lathe but still pretty reasonable really.

Objectively a fairly boring, bog standard lower end industrial lathe. Flat belt drive never really up to the theoretical capabilities of the machine. But at least drive slip reduced the chances of seriously damaging crashes.

Mondial design originally but pretty sure that at least some of the Mk 2's were UK made. As I recall it mine had made in UK stamped in a couple of places but it was a long time ago and memory is fallible. Tracing the actual provenance of machines made and/or supplied by Elliott Group tends to be "frustrating".

Clive.

[HopperParticipant @hopper]

Posted by Clive Foster on 11/08/2018 10:40:46:

… Flat belt drive never really up to the theoretical capabilities of the machine. But at least drive slip reduced the chances of seriously damaging crashes….

There's a lot you can do today with modern belt materials. You can even run a Poly-V belt straight on those old flat pulleys with very good results. Even better if you have a second lathe to turn the poly-grooves in the pulleys. Unslippable then.

[Spencer OrdParticipant @spencerord84987]

Yes apparently the mk1 was prone to suffer from crash damage.but on the mk2 thinks have been improved. How good I don’t no until I have finished refurbishing the machine. Being 40 inch between centres and 6 /12 swing. Plus having the gap bed should prove useful with a large face plate.

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