What’s this grinder attachment for?

[HollowpointParticipant @hollowpoint]

Hi guys

A while ago I purchased a Hemmingway/Worden cutter grinder which came with a small box of attachment accessories. I know what most of them are (lathe tool holder, drill bit sharpener etc) but this one has me stumped. Anyone have any ideas? It’s very nicely made. There is of course the possibility that it has absolutely nothing to do with the Hemmingway?

[Nigel Graham 2Participant @nigelgraham2]

I’ve built a Hemingway Kits ‘Worden’ T&C Grinder and that device looks nothing like the accessories listed for it.

That doesn’t necessarily mean it was not used with the grinder, of course.

As you say, beautifully made but I can only suggest it is for sharpening some special type of cutting-tool. Clock-making related, maybe?

[HollowpointParticipant @hollowpoint]

Yes, I am starting to think that it is from a different machine. Something like a quorn grinder perhaps. Maybe for gravers?

[Nigel Graham 2Participant @nigelgraham2]

Could have been designed originally for a different T&C grinder but adapted to fit the Worden?

Or of course its first owner had Worden and other grinders!

I wondered about engraving-cutters too. From what I recall of the special sharpener made for the RTH engraving-machines, the cutter is rotated through an arc eccentric to its axis to produce the clearance, but the machine was a lot simpler than this device.  However I am no expert on their geometry. I just used an engraving-machine… years ago.

Perhaps for grinding along flutes?

[HollowpointParticipant @hollowpoint]

Guys I am still hoping to identify what this is. I sorted some more parts this morning and I think these are all the bits which likely go together. You can now see that this would likely have bolted down using the grey angle bracket. Interestingly the bracket being grey would suggest that it is from another machine because the Worden grinder is green.

[bernard towersParticipant @bernardtowers37738]

Looks very quornish with that steel rocking arm with the stops and micro adjustment.

[FulmenParticipant @fulmen]

I’m building a Bonelle (Quorn without castings), can’t say i recognize anything as obviously belonging to it. Wouldn’t rule out a custom fixture for it though.

[John HaineParticipant @johnhaine32865]

I wonder if it actually designed to go with a standard bench grinder? So the grey bracket would bolt to the bench holding the rest of the gubbins in position and allowing it to stroke across the grinding face of the wheel.  Though nicely made it doesn’t look very rigid.

[Charles LamontParticipant @charleslamont71117]

Is it even anything to do with grinding? A lot of good workmanship has gone into this contraption, but, and admittedly without knowing its purpose, the design seems a bit Heath-Robinson.

[Nigel Graham 2Participant @nigelgraham2]

If these were ever near a tool & cutter grinder, I’d suggest a “Stent” as that has a T-slotted table, and one or two of these Mystery Items may be to fit such a table.

Particularly the simple bar with T-bolt and wing-nut: the “Stent drawings” show that pattern of bolt-head but it hints alternatively of e.g. Myford cross-slide or BCA jig-borer.

The most complicated Thingamajig might be some sort of measuring or setting tool rather than holding a cutter for grinding.

The simple block with a channel and three screws suggests holding a small-section lathe tool.

Knowing approximate sizes may help; but I think these were all made by their previous owner for very specific purposes. Some sort of scientific instrument or test-rig, perchance?

[Phil PParticipant @philp]

There are three sub assemblies in the upper right of the photo that all look very similar.
Each has a plug with a knurled end, could I take a guess that the body diameters are 5/8″ 1/2″ & 3/8″.

I get the feeling that the knurled plugs are a distance setting gauge for the pin in the slotted part, then maybe removed so that an end mill, or more likely a ball nose end mill can be inserted for sharpening.

I have never seen anything like this before but it looks feasible.

Phil P

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

The white ball is a clue. See this sharpening accessory page for Lindow and Evans style goniostat. (amused to find that the forum dictionary does not recognise this word).
https://lindowroseengine.com/product-category/accessories

So it is possibly for small cutters used by an ornamental turner and used in a similar setup to a Collier-Caseley which is a simplified Quorn.

[HollowpointParticipant @hollowpoint]

Hello guys. Sorry for not replying very quickly. Something else cropped up. Been very busy. 🙄 Thanks for all the replies, they are all good suggestions.

It does look like a miniature quorn type thing and perhaps it was used with a different grinder. That does now look very likely.

Phil – I thought you had cracked it for a moment! Right up until I inspected the knurled plugs. They are stepped in the middle, meaning a cutter couldn’t be pushed through to meet the pin!

Baz – I think you may be on to something. The grinder as well as some other stuff came from a friend who cleared a workshop on behalf of a lady who had unfortunately lost her husband. Among some of the stuff I saw was some literature titled “rose engine” and there was also a small wooden box labelled “ornamental turning” inside of which where several ornamental turned hardwood disks. I appreciated the craftsmanship, but at the time didn’t think anything else of it. Kind of makes sense now.

When I next see my friend I will ask him about it.

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