Hi Sean
Interested to see your new purchase. I wish you well with it. You will get lots of fun with it …over a longer period than you think.
I’m in the middle of rebuilding one at the moment and am at the painting stage. It looks the same. I could never find the correct name for it as I have an ‘F and J Edwards’ plate on mine and so put down to that although I suspected it was badge job as no casting reference to identify it so was looking at German lathes (for a reason) and American makes, which all look very similar but not totally. A bit age related.
A big thanks to Mark for identifying ‘Fortis’ so a match at long last. I will now do a read-up of the various connections. Weight wise I am at 140kilos and a bit to go yet. I weigh bits as I strip them down so I am working on a final bit over 200 kilos without a stand. The bed is 44.5kilos so a strong build. I have very few add-ons or changes as far as I can see although with four coats of paint it was serious fun finding grub screws and other bits hidden under the paint.
On the top bearings mine are taper-rollers (a Timkin tapered roller bearing reference) and have grease nipples. I thought they were original and standard. The last greasing was with white lithium grease but it came about in the forties so not much use for dating. The Counter shaft ball bearings are SKF .
So……………. if I can be of help please PM me. I’m not there yet but soon I hope……. .I have most in bits still. I have to get to a stage where I can get the centre of a balance and make a wooden base with a sensible motor position.
Best wishes to you. Let us know how it goes.