Results 1 to 9 of 9
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2017
    Location
    Melbourne
    Age
    64
    Posts
    221

    Default 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

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    NSW
    Posts
    537

    Default

    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.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    Near Bendigo, Victoria, AUS
    Age
    72
    Posts
    3,102

    Default

    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....

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    NSW
    Posts
    537

    Default

    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.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2017
    Location
    Melbourne
    Age
    64
    Posts
    221

    Default

    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

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    Near Bendigo, Victoria, AUS
    Age
    72
    Posts
    3,102

    Default

    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....

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Mar 2017
    Location
    Melbourne
    Age
    64
    Posts
    221

    Default

    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

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Apr 2012
    Location
    Healesville
    Posts
    2,129

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Silversprings View Post
    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.
    Thanks again, Tony
    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
    Attached Images Attached Images

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Mar 2017
    Location
    Melbourne
    Age
    64
    Posts
    221

    Default

    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.

Similar Threads

  1. Any one recognise or know what these are?
    By Greolt in forum METALWORK GENERAL
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 25th Apr 2017, 09:07 PM
  2. Some tools i don't recognise
    By Briangoldcoast in forum METALWORK GENERAL
    Replies: 10
    Last Post: 31st Oct 2016, 10:04 PM
  3. Mystery lathe gears
    By nadroj in forum METALWORK GENERAL
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 3rd Apr 2016, 05:20 PM
  4. a mystery Lathe
    By thorens in forum METALWORK GENERAL
    Replies: 16
    Last Post: 27th Feb 2016, 11:05 PM
  5. Hercus lathe mystery bracket
    By neksmerj in forum METALWORK GENERAL
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 25th Jan 2008, 12:37 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •