New Lathe, well maybe not “new”

[Oompa LumpaParticipant @oompalumpa34302]

But new to me. A friend of mine who has an antiques shop called me up last week and said "I have a chap here trying to sell me a lathe, do you want it?

What is it? was the obvious first question, "it's nice" was the answer so essentially I bought a pig in a poke. I had absolutely no idea at all as to what I had bought but I wasn't disappointed with the purchase, it is a lovely antique lathe with all the "bits" and it is actually in a very useable condition. I will not be using it of course, I have something else in mind for it (no – I will not be cutting it up/otherwise destroying it) but if anyone could give me any idea as to it's possible origins (other than from Jeff at the antique shop) I would be grateful as I am going to be asked the question innumerable times I would imagine.

22" between centres and 31/4" from the bed to the centre of the chuck. Lovely thing it is too. No chuck key though

graham.

[Oompa LumpaParticipant @oompalumpa34302]

[John Stevenson 1Participant @johnstevenson1]

Seen one of these before.

It's a lathe.

[RainbowsParticipant @rainbows]

Would I be correct to say that the bed design is one generally more popular with USA made lathes?

[Oompa LumpaParticipant @oompalumpa34302]

Posted by John Stevenson on 21/06/2015 17:21:10:

Seen one of these before.

It's a lathe.

Yes, but I think it is ambidextrous though as there is a steady rest (shown not so well in the top photograph) that looks "woodworking-ish".

graham.

[Rik ShawParticipant @rikshaw]

If it were mine I would send a pic to Tony at "lathes" and hope he can come up with an answer for you. A lovely looking machine and one that could arguably be described as an instrument makers lathe.

Rik

[Ian PParticipant @ianp]

Graham

Can't help with the lathe, but it looks quality.

Any news on the EDM yet?

Ian P

[frank brownParticipant @frankbrown22225]

Looks old, Pre 1910? have you measured the tapers?, some are patent to one lathe manufacturer.

Frank

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Graham,

It has general look of WolfJahn

**LINK**

The angle scale for that top slide is rather impressive … Could you do a detail photo, please.

MichaelG.

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

It is like a George Adams 2 1/2 clockmakers lathe (bigger than watchmakers) though it is a bit more elaborate than one of those. Hence the hand rest – not for woodworking.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Interesting that you should mention George Adams, Bazyle

The opening paragraph on this page is quite revealing.

MichaelG.

[Roderick JenkinsParticipant @roderickjenkins93242]

Graham,

Have a look at the Lorch Model A

HTH

Rod

[AjohnwParticipant @ajohnw51620]

My father told me that there were variations on a V and flat lathes beds about well prior to WW II.

I would like to see a close up of the whole angle setting area and one of the lead screw dials. I have seen a lathe some where with the angle scales and a long pointer like this one but as there appears to be 2 scales I'd be inclined to think that in this case it's an add on. Also from it's appearance I wonder if the slide rest actually belongs to the lathe, Is the slide rest fitted to a block which is shaped to fit the bed and also looks like it has more age in the same way the other bed fittings do?

John

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[Roderick JenkinsParticipant @roderickjenkins93242]

Hi Graham,

This posting turned up over on MEM:

**LINK**

It looks very much as if yours is an early Lorch

Rod

Edited By Roderick Jenkins on 02/07/2015 11:35:16

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

Rod, I'd tend to agree, unless it's a copy.

Ian S C

[Phil WhitleyParticipant @philwhitley94135]

Looking at the unusually long travel on the compound and the long and elaborate angle indicator which would increase the accuracy for angle setting, I would hazard a guess that this machine is designed for taoer turning.

Phil

[Phil WhitleyParticipant @philwhitley94135]

TAPER!! turning that is!

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Those ring-nuts 'ring' a bell.

I remember an article in an old ME on someone making a replacement one for an old lathe – now if we could find the article I bet it's the same lathe…

Neil

[AjohnwParticipant @ajohnw51620]

I think those weird shaped nuts are an English thing. However I dont think that it is one of these

**LINK**

Nice nuts – can put a crow bar through them to do some English heavy duty turning. I'd guess the slide rest – the name of the cross and compound, is I suspect continental or at least doesn't belong with the lathe. Hence the couple of questions I asked.

John

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[Roderick JenkinsParticipant @roderickjenkins93242]

The last illustration of the Lorch model A iv on Tony's site shows ring nuts and a similar unbalanced handle on the"topslide".

Rod (possibly flogging a dead horse)

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