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28th May 2017, 07:08 PM #1
Mystery Lathe - anyone recognise it?
I have picked up a lathe from a deceased estate which I haven't been able to identify. It is very small (3" swing x 8" between centres) and quite basic. It could be a one off home made, but the head and tail stock (both M1 tapers,) look like commercial castings, so it could have been sold in kit form or assembled. The motor is a Australian made (in Melbourne) Busch 1/4HP, 240V. I guess that doesn't mean the lathe came from an Aussie manufacturer, but it could. Love the little 4 way tool post - talk about delusions of grandeur....must find a QCTP for it.....
If anyone recognises it or has some info on origin, I would be pleased to hear it. If it has an interesting story, I will probably restore it - I like to preserve old tools, but in this case, it wont get much/any use in my workshop.
Cheers, Tony
Lathe 1.jpgLathe 2.jpg
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29th May 2017, 04:49 PM #2Golden Member
- Join Date
- Apr 2008
- Location
- NSW
- Posts
- 537
Maybe a home made lathe ? possibly a rough copy of a Burden lathe.
The volume of a pizza of thickness 'a' and radius 'z' is given by pi z z a.
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29th May 2017, 05:30 PM #3
It rings a bell with me.... Vague memories of Russian or Polish copy and enlargement of a Unimat... I'll see if I can find something more concrete.
Cheers, Joe
retired - less energy, more time to contemplate projects and more shed time....
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30th May 2017, 01:08 PM #4Golden Member
- Join Date
- Apr 2008
- Location
- NSW
- Posts
- 537
It could be a rough copy of an early Emco Unimat there is similarities .
The volume of a pizza of thickness 'a' and radius 'z' is given by pi z z a.
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30th May 2017, 10:28 PM #5
Thanks. I can see the similarities with the Unimat. There are no makers marks (or any markings) on it, other than the motor, which could easily be a ring in. I'll clean it up; bit of a curio.
Thanks to you all for your suggestions. Tony
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31st May 2017, 09:29 PM #6
I can't find what I thought I was looking for.... I wonder if it is home-built? The bed is similar to the Craftsman Shop Smith bed - maybe that started the design idea....
Cheers, Joe
retired - less energy, more time to contemplate projects and more shed time....
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31st May 2017, 10:41 PM #7
The bed being two bars is similar to a few commercial machines. The head and tail stock being mounted on an angle iron frame is not encouraging to liken it to a 'quality' commercial machine; most others, like Unimat, I have seen (thanks to Google) seem to at least have a cast base. The head stock is also a disappointing item - although I haven't pulled it down yet, it looks to be a simple bushing spindle, no bearings, and maybe not even bushed. Again, my in-depth (!) Google search shows most min-lathes having a more substantial head stock. I'm inclined to think it is homemade, using some kit parts supplied by ?? Doesn't look like I have a particularly historically interesting, or even useful, machine. Pity, it was gifted to me in good faith from the deceased estate because they knew I was a restorer and collector of old machinery. Not sure this is worthy of much more attention.
Thanks again, Tony
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31st May 2017, 11:28 PM #8Most Valued Member
- Join Date
- Apr 2012
- Location
- Healesville
- Posts
- 2,129
There is nothing wrong with bronze bushes in the headstock, my hercus is in good nick and cuts well after many years of service.
That little lathe might surprise you how handy it could be, here is a pic of a lathe my father built probably 75 years ago, with bronze headstock bushes, note the chips on it.....still handy and gets used once in a blue moon.
I say clean it up and use it... shed
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31st May 2017, 11:45 PM #9
Oh yes, nothing wrong with a bushed head stock - don't get me wrong. I have a Hercus C made in 1943, bushing head stock, and it is still going strong with little run out. The photos of my mystery machine do not show the head stock in detail, but when you look at it, it is a pretty meagre affair, very light construction, with one little oil hole mid spindle. I will pull it down tomorrow and check, but I cant immediately spot where the bushings are. You are right, it could surprise me.
Your fathers machine looks like a ripper.
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