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Drummond
5th May 2008, 02:11 PM
A little bird tells me that Neksmerj is looking for a list of Hercus lathe serial numbers (actually it was the Practical Machinist South Bend board).

Here you go Ken. These were given to me by a friend who was the Hercus NSW rep many years ago - sorry they only go up to 1982.

1939 20-41
1940 42-141
1941 142-324
1942 325-575
1943 576-927
1944 928-1130
1945 1131-1342
1946 1343-1743
1947 1744-2204
1948 2205-2657
1949 2658-3110
1950 3111-3565
1951 3566-4069
1952 4070-4425
1953 4426-4741
1954 4742-5045
1955 5046-5301
1956 5302-5862
1957 5863-6154
1958 6155-6661
1959 6662-7118
1960 7119-7572
1961 7573-7943
1962 7973-8439
1963 8440-8999
1964 9000-9639
1965 9640-10405
1966 10406-11057
1967 11058-11680
1968 11681-12288
1969 12289-12916
1970 12917-13471
1971 13472-13930
1972 13931-14367
1973 14368-14848
1974 14849-15383
1975 15384-15671 (260 from June)
1976 15672-15906
1977 15907-16334
1978 16335-16690
1979 16691-16976
1980 16977-17414
1981 17415-17840
1982 17841-18066

Enjoy!

Regards

Tony

bitza500
5th May 2008, 02:44 PM
Hi Tony, I have a Hercus 9" Model A number 4891 When I contacted Hercus with Photos and a description (like it does not run bearings even on the mainshaft) The oldest worker at Hercus 40+ years had never seen one like mine as it has a hardened Mainshaft runs directly on the mainstock casting and as it is completely stripped the only bearing is the Thrust bearing on the mainshaft Hercus put date wise at 50+ years and may have been one of the original lathes that were first to run V-Belts the guy I bought it off in his 90's bought it brand new from Mcpherson's and he said at least 50 years ago plus mine is that very dark blue/grey so can you ask your friend about it as it is a weird lathe with no bearings and would like to know how old it is as the mainshaft is 1 1/2 8TPI but has only 7 threads on the shaft for its length so can you ask as my number would date it in the 50's when they were painted Dark Green and ran roller bearings on the headstock Plus I found a Southbend identical to mine dated 1938-39 so now you have me wondering so can you please ask ????

allthe best Derek
if I could work out how to put pictures on I would

neksmerj
5th May 2008, 03:58 PM
Tony,

You are a marvel, that's exactly the info I was after.

It may well be that 1982 was the last year of manufacture. Perhaps one of our members could enlighten us further.

After posting my thread in the Practical Machinist-South Bend forum, I also wrote to Axmell, Hercus agents in SA, requesting the same info.

It will be interesting to see what they come up with.

Many thanks,

Ken

Drummond
5th May 2008, 04:07 PM
Derek

I not quite sure about the description of your machine - It sounds like the standard specification at that time when they all had hardened spindles running in the cast iron of the headstock.

Roller bearing headstocks, as far as I can gather, were only introduced as an option in the late 1950s. The plain bearings also continued up until the introduction of the 260 in 1975. Roller bearings are identified by an R in the serial number.(L is a long bed, H is hardened, I is instrument standard, R is a quick change toolpost etc).

Looking at contemporary brochures, either a three step flat belt headstock pulley or a four step vee belt pull was available up until the early 1960s.

With regard to colours, they were all dark battleship grey until the early 1960s when a lighter shade of grey was introduced. The mid green followed in the later 1960s. However, machines sold to the NSW Department of Education were beige rather than green.

Hope this helps.

Tony

Drummond
5th May 2008, 04:13 PM
Ken

I understand that the last batch of Hercus 260 lathes were made around 2000. At that stage the base price of a model A was around $10,000.

Tony

neksmerj
5th May 2008, 09:08 PM
Hi Tony,

Have sent you an email.

Ken

wannabe
5th May 2008, 10:39 PM
Thanks Drummond. I was curious as to how old mine was. Serial No: 6739 dates it mid 1959. Nearly as old as me.
Mine is a 9" Model A Hercus which I only got a few weeks ago. It's Yellow and it looks like the original colour. Apparently Telecom used to own it so I assume it was a probably a special order in Telecom Yellow. It came with some tooling and a half working Taper Attachment which was missing jib strips, some of the jib screws and the anchor bracket. Just finished this afternoon fabricating the parts and getting the thing operational again. Great for turning tapers. Some of the threads used on these lathes are a bit obscure. 12-28 for the jib screws.
I was planning on stripping mine and painting it green as per original but your saying they were Battleship Grey at that time.
The 2x3 jaw chucks that came with this lathe have seen better days (runout is disgusting) and I'm going to have to get a new chuck. Buying a new chuck is not a problem but getting a backing plate is. Does anyone know where I can get a chuck backing plate for this lathe in Australia. Spindle thread is 1 1/2 x 8.

neksmerj
6th May 2008, 01:26 AM
Wannabe,

Welcome to the exclusive Hercus club, a fine machine and deserving of a toast with a glass of the finest port.

Get in touch with bitza500, above, he has a mate that makes backing plates.

Hope this lead helps.

Ken

wannabe
8th May 2008, 10:17 PM
Thanks Ken. I'll do that.
Yeah I joined the club. I was planning on buying the AL-335 or AL-336 from H&F but had some concerns about spare parts and support further down the track. I have a H&F VM1 mill (1987) and spare parts/support are non existent. After reading a lot of the posts on here and other SouthBend forums I saw this Hercus and decided this was the way to go. Here it is 50 years old and I can still find parts and support for it. Great.

What size 3 jaw chuck would you recommend for this lathe. I think they originally came with a 5" but I was wondering if I could put a 6" on it. Do you think it would it be too big/heavy for it?
Also. I'm after a couple of way wipers for the rear of the saddle as both of them are missing. Does anyone know if these are still available from Hercus or anywhere else. Does Mick Moyle sell small items like these? Wouldn't mind a steady rest for it either.

Penpal
9th May 2008, 02:53 PM
I think I have a steady rest you could use as a pattern to make one using ball races to improve the design, also the way brushes so you could measure them and make your own. Anyway you are welcome to come and have a yarn and see my lathe. Send me a pm with your name and phone number, I live in Belconnen.

Peter:2tsup:

neksmerj
9th May 2008, 07:38 PM
Wannabe,

You might be able to find some wiper retainers by contacting ANTFARM200, eBay, USA.

He has a plethora of spare parts for the South Bend lathe. The Hercus is a clone.

If not, some time ago, I made a drawing, as one of mine is missing also.

The felt behind the retainer is about 3.5-4mm thick.

Attached is the drawing, and dxf file if you decide to get them laser cut.

If you do, I would like a couple.

PS When folding, remember these saddle wiper retainers, are handed, left and right.

Ken

bitza500
10th May 2008, 12:30 PM
Hi Tony, my Lathe is a Darkblue/Grey as I have been looking for any photos to match mine as so far not even Hercus and Jeff Vickers 40+years at Hercus was intruiged as he had not seen anything like mine as in all the parts description I sent. My Hercus when I stripped it down I turned over the steel tray cleaned and polished to get the best color match and it is more dark blue than grey I would love to show the picture so I could get some reaction as my Mainshaft is to short my thrust is 1/16" thinner the list goes on on and still to no good I have seen many a Flatbelt similiar but not this color and the 4891 number dates it in the 1950's by the serial no chart but I am very confused as I bought it off the original owner just before Christmas who was very elderly and he bought it when he finished his Apprenticeship and I am 50 and this gentleman has outlived some of his Children ? as we talked for ages about the old lathe and his big house he sold.Is there anybody who Knows what year Hercus went to V-Belts as I have seen the old black and white photo of MR hercus himself in the workshop using a V-Belt Lathe where all the others are Flat belt so any Idea when they were converted ???? and how can I send a photo to you so you can see the old girl as each email makes it older or newer and the people who have seen it do not know so please let me know as can we put our email addresses on the messages or not ??
all the best Derek

fraserbluff
12th May 2008, 09:33 PM
I have two Hercus lathes. A (A6188) 1958 dark green "A" with a 4 speed V belt drive and plain bearings and a (C10540) 1966 Battle Ship Grey model with 4 speed V belt drive and plain bearings.

Cheers

Donald (On the Rock)

wannabe
14th May 2008, 09:36 PM
Thanks for the way wiper drawings Ken. Had a look on Ebay and he wants about $60 for four of them. I only need two of them and they are different to the ones on my lathe too. They don't look that hard to make. I've got a bit of brass sheet so I think I'll just have a go at making a couple of them up. Just have to see if I can source a bit of F1 felt. That could be interesting. Sourcing anything in Canberra is hopeless.

Bitza500:
Mine is Serial No: 6739 which makes it mid 1959. It's a 4 speed V belt with plain bearings.

neksmerj
15th May 2008, 01:19 AM
Wannabe,

Try this company, they have engineering grade felt.

www.feltshop.com.au/product.asp?pID=58&cID=9 (http://www.feltshop.com.au/product.asp?pID=58&cID=9)

If you have trouble, let me know.

Ken

bitza500
30th May 2008, 01:13 AM
Hi Tony, can you figure this one out a flat Belt hercus 9" with the serial Number is VB316 I have purchased this golden oldie but am baffled by the serial number the current seller stated that it was bought in 1945 by a ex Changi POW and has been sitting for 10 years getting covered in sawdust and woodchips but the number has got me any idea ????

all the best Derek

Drummond
30th May 2008, 02:46 PM
Derek

If this machine is a South Bend clone 9 inch Hercus, the serial number would indicated that it is a Model B (power cross feed but no Norton chick change gearbox) built in 1940. Not sur about the V prefix however.

The most common prefixes are L (long bed) H (hardened bed) Q (quick change toolpost) and S (special - no tailstock, no screwcutting etc).

However, if it is flat bed machine, I have no idea!

Tony

bitza500
25th Jul 2008, 12:42 AM
As I have been going through each page at a time I have read that there is 2 lots of Serial Numbers I have just printed out Drummond's list but would like to hear from anybody with another Serial number list and has anybody thought of doing a serial number registry as I would be glad to accept NAME, STATE, SERIAL NUMBER, COLOUR and if possible your year of manufacture as I have read a lot of members have the paperwork from new and would be a good exercise to see how many we have and were they all are
Do I have a backing for this or do I need approval from the top ??

all the best Derek

BobWn
28th Sep 2008, 10:55 PM
G'day - I am unloading a newly aquired 9" plain bearing 8 speed + BG, with S/C gearbox, dismantling as I go. It is too heavy with cabinet and gear to lift out of the van in one piece. I have to go over it anyway so nothing lost.
IT IS BLUE to the cast iron. Too much crud to read numbers yet. (by torch anyway as it is after midnight)
Bed looks dirty but no visible nicks ( yet) Chuck crashes have the rat nibble marks on the topslide.
Steadies and origonal Burnerd chuck papers still in the cabinet so not an ex school machine origonally. Recently out of a farmer's shed unused since he got it from a motor workshop where it had been for many years.
First saw the grey 4 pulley V belt Hercus at a trade fair in 1957. When you fall in love it does strange things.
I will forward info as it comes to hand.
Great that you have a forum spot going. Many more read than take part. I appreciate the list of SerNos and other shared data.
Regards BobWn