Thread: what model hercus is this

sorry if anyone is watching this.

just really wondering what model it is. doesn't look like the older models to me, sort of looks like an early 260?

cant quite read the model on the name plate

cheers

http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/DFMAAO...xX/s-l1600.jpg

http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/PHUAAO...xy/s-l1600.jpg

Steve, on the plate there is a model and serial number marked, but I can't quite read it looks like ATM or similar, but I'm pretty sure it's a 260. The serial number is 15245 or 6 I can't quite read it.
Kryn

It's a long bed Hercus Craftsman.
Cheers,
Greg.

thanks, after some looking - the model looks like a craftsman AUL

sounds like you know these Greg did they have hardened beds.

bit blurry to read it clearly - looks like the quick change gearbox does imperial and metric pitches or are there extra change gears needed?

cheers

That machine does not have hardened beds and it is not on the original base, it has a home made belt setup in the base which is a bit of a shame because it is a nice looking machine and if it was all original it would have probably gone by now for that money and it would have been sitting in my shed , I guess for anyone that buys it they would want to make sure that it ran smoothly and the motor set up was actually set up correctly. The gearbox is only imperial and you would need to get the change gears to cut metric threads.

Steve

I've not actually done any work on a Craftsman but the underslung motor layout makes them a good lathe if you are limited for space because they don't require as much depth as a normal Hercus 9 or a 260. Hercus lathes were available with flame hardened beds but I don't think this lathe has that option.

The plate appears to be indicate an AUL model as you mentioned, these letters indicate the options the machine has:

A = Quick change gearbox and powered cross feed apron
U = Underslung motor which I think would apply to all Craftsman lathes.
L = Long bed (30" capacity between centres)

If the bed was flame hardened this would be indicated by another letter which I can't remember off the top of my head. Best bloke to ask would be Mal (alterain50) from Australian Metalworking Hobbyist who is the Hercus guru.

I suspect the lathe has imperial lead screws as metric is indicated an M in the model number. This doesn't mean you can't cut metric threads, you just need the transposing gears and it's a bit fiddly as you can't disengage the clamp nuts once you start cutting the thread.

This one seems very pricey given the non original cabinet and that the change gear cover appears to be missing. If you're close by though it might still be worth a look as long beds don't come up that often and you might be able to agree on a more realistic price in person.
Cheers,
Greg.

Given the price that some Craftsman have gone for I think $1400.00 is very reasonable.

The metric lathes had a differently configured gearbox, they were backwards in a sense so you can tell from a photo if the machine is metric or not, as for the letters on the gearbox goes, H stands for a hardened bed and F is for a high speed machine, some people get this confused and assume that F is for flame hardened. Mal did put a post up on here not long ago with all of the letter meanings.

thanks all. contemplating a lathe upgrade.

If the craftsman had been closer it might be in my shed by now.