Lathe make ?

[sparky mikeParticipant @sparkymike]

I have just been given this small (watchmakers ?) lathe by a friend .

Anyone got any idea of possible maker's name. Length is just over 12".

No motor, or chuck, but complete with a few bits and pieces.

Mike.

[sparky mikeParticipant @sparkymike]

[Frances IoMParticipant @francesiom58905]

looks rather like the Flexispeed 1 5/8″ Student see
http://www.lathes.co.uk/flexy/page2.html

that site describes it as shortlived + judging by my one lives up to this

if so not a watchmakers but a cheap competitor to the the super adept beloved by our Editor

Edited By Frances IoM on 30/12/2020 16:52:55

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

Perhaps a 'railway modeller's' lathe then. It looks like you have the knobs as illustrated in the adert unlike the one photographed on lathes.co .uk so perhaps a good quality photo would be of interest to Tony.

[sparky mikeParticipant @sparkymike]

[sparky mikeParticipant @sparkymike]

This triangular item was in the box with the above lathe. Have no idea if it had any purpose other than storing odds and ends.

The Flexispeed looks to be the lathe make in question. Funny thing, there is one on Ebay at the moment and owner does not know what it is so may well message him with the above possibility. Thanks for input. Not sure what to do with it, might give it to a very good friend.

Mike.

[Frances IoMParticipant @francesiom58905]

I acquired mine at suitably low price at a rummage sale – prev owner had obviously wrecked the slide + top slide as not enough metal in original to hold parts together.

Yours however looks fairly unused

[sparky mikeParticipant @sparkymike]

The triangular die cast piece had 17/6 in pencil on the side. 17shillings and six pence !!

Mike.

[sparky mikeParticipant @sparkymike]

I need to know the size of the Morse taper in the tail stock.

Any idea where I can get a drill chuck to suit that same taper?

In additition, would I have to make my own backplate for a chuck for the headstock, or does any company stock chucks that would fit the headstock thread. (1/2" X 16tpi) ?

Mike.

[Frances IoMParticipant @francesiom58905]

Head + Tail take a MT0 but the tail end of it rather like the Cowells – however somewhat shorter with the final 8mm approx removed if you want it in the tailstock – you will probably need to make your own – I’ve also got a Perris (precursor to Cowells) + made a chuck arbour to take the chuck made for a Dremel.

Standard MT0’s stick out much too far to be useful.

However I wouldn’t think it is worth spending much on it – the tailstck is poor and not readily adjustable for centring.
I also made a small backplate to take a ER25 holder for the Perris as also had a chuck for my larger WM180 but again probably not worth it for this machine.

Edited By Frances IoM on 31/12/2020 14:08:08

Edited By Frances IoM on 31/12/2020 14:08:59

Edited By Frances IoM on 31/12/2020 14:12:48

[sparky mikeParticipant @sparkymike]

I need to know the size of the small V belt on the above lathe?.

Pulley is definitely shaped for V belts and not round belting.

Mike.

[Jeff DaymanParticipant @jeffdayman43397]

This link might help, it lists commonly available V belt sizes.

https://www.mcmaster.com/v-belts/v-belts-8/

If you measure the top / max width of your pulleys you can tell whether they would take 1/4" or 3/8" or 1/2" wide belts (or some other common size). The belt should run with the top 1/4 to 1/5 of the belt height outside the pulley OD when new. As they wear they will ride lower.

[Frances IoMParticipant @francesiom58905]

The Perris came with original 1/4″ ribbed (cross belt) belts – I seem to recall that there was similar on my Flexispeed but it came with no motor so don’t know if it was original – I would assume driven just like the Perris with a cross shaft driven by motor on a hinged support so that weight tensions the drive belt – the spindle runs in cast iron (be very careful on tightening these as too easy to crack them) so not really designed for high speed + keep well oiled – you need the cross shaft to act as a speed reducer as standard motors run too fast for direct coupling – you will also need a matched set of pulleys on the cross shaft

Edited By Frances IoM on 01/01/2021 14:59:43

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