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Thread: Rexman Lathes

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Dec 2017
    Location
    Berwick Vic., Australia
    Age
    72
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    2

    Default Rexman Lathes

    Not sure if this qualifies for antique or not, but I was recently given an old metal working lathe by a friend of a friend. Although partly dismantled & unused for many years I was assured it was in working order. Knowing absolutely nothing about metal working lathes, I set about restoring it &, after a few adventures, have now returned it to working order. Here's a handful of before & after pictures. Now all I have to do is learn how to use it & start making some stuff. Google tells me that this lathe, a Rexman, was built in Richmond Vic by a company owned by Rex Osman, probably sometime between the late 1930's & early 1950's, but that's all I can find. If anyone is able to provide any more information about Rexman lathes, I would love to hear from you.

    IMG_20171202_122119400.jpgIMG_20171202_122133523.jpgIMG_20171202_122156358.jpgIMG_20171229_153334116.jpgIMG_20171229_153320766.jpgIMG_20171229_153346755.jpgIMG_20171229_153400776.jpgIMG_20171229_153411882.jpg

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Mackay North Qld
    Posts
    6,446

    Default

    macjayeff

    Welcome to the forum.
    Nice restoration. I hope you have two lathes,
    That one is just far too nice to get dirty

    You may have been here Rexman lathe

    Look out for a PM with links to Terms of Use and Asking questions. I send them to all new members

    Grahame

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    near Warragul, Victoria
    Posts
    3,718

    Default

    I recall helping a friend transport one of those Rexman lathes around 1989 . A elderly retired toolmaker had given the lathe to my friend and we loaded it into my Holden HR ute for the trip from Chelsea to Hallam. My friend kept the Rexman for a few months and then he sold it for $1200 !

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    near Rockhampton
    Posts
    6,216

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by morrisman View Post
    I recall helping a friend transport one of those Rexman lathes around 1989 . A elderly retired toolmaker had given the lathe to my friend and we loaded it into my Holden HR ute for the trip from Chelsea to Hallam. My friend kept the Rexman for a few months and then he sold it for $1200 !
    I hope he gave the money to the elderly retired toolmaker. Or offered to.

    I bought a hydraulic drill on ebay after a person told me he was "helping" out a new widow clean out the shed of her deceased husband. He saw this new drill and got it for nothing. He knew it retailed for over $1200 new, but took advantage of the widow not knowing anything.
    Gold, the colour of choice for the discerning person.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jul 2016
    Location
    Melbourne
    Age
    35
    Posts
    1,522

    Default

    I had one given to me a number of years ago along with a hand shaper, but it had a broken rear spindle gear that drives the tumble reverse, it was because a deep keyway was put in a zamak (weak zinc alloy) gear and it must have split apart under heavy load. I ended up remaking the gear and giving the lathe to a friend as it was too small for my general work.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Dec 2017
    Location
    Berwick Vic., Australia
    Age
    72
    Posts
    2

    Default

    Sounds like a profitable venture. I might have to consider the same course of action.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Feb 2014
    Location
    Werribee, Melbourne
    Posts
    177

    Default

    Another one comes out of the woodwork - I helped a friend pick one up last weekend.

    It looks to be slightly earlier than the restored one shown here as it has flat belt pulleys and the compound mounted with a single bolt.
    It doesn't look to have been abused much and seems relatively intact. It came with quite a number of change gears but no threading plate on the gear cover as shown on the one restored by the OP.
    This has a layer of dirt and sawdust impregnated oil that have kept it rust-free in all the important areas so should come up a treat with a really good clean.

    Ray

    IMG_0278_2.jpg

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