Thread: Hercus gearbox plate

Can anyone supply me with a good clean photo of a 9" metric gearbox plate. I am looking at producing reproduction plates but don't have a sample of that type.

Mal, you need to be congratulated for perpetuating the Hercus name with your used parts, and new.

May I inquire how you intend making the data plates, and will you be making plates for the 9" imperial lathe?

Good onya buddy

Ken (neksmerj)

Hi Ken,
Probably start with the 9a imperial plate first, as they will tend to be the ones in poor condition due to their age. Followed by the 9am and so on. I thought I wasn't going to be able to reproduce the acid etched originals but I now have a quote that will make it possible. How long it will take to produce them all will depend on how long it takes to recover the investment at each stage.
I will anticipate the question by telling everyone the price should be around $38, give or take.

Mal

I have been looking at the 9" model A plates and have come up with a potential problem. To have a reproduction of the original suitable for those who seek to do a full original restoration, the fact that there are something like 4 different versions, that have been supplied over the many years of manufacture, is an issue. Although the general information is unchanged with regards to the thread cutting and feeds, the Hercus company information on top of the plate has changes of location as they moved premises and changed from Southwark-Trebarton and so on. Also changes as to how the company described itself on the plate (e.g. F.W.HERCUS pty limited or F.W.HERCUS manufacturing coy ltd) I can't afford to reproduce all these variations and am not sure which to produce.
I would be interested in working out roughly how many would have been produced of each type. With that in mind, pictures of plates and the machine numbers associated would help me sort out which is the most numerous and therefor the one I need to produce.
Personally I wouldn't think this important but some will worry about it. I could sit and make phone calls or send emails to owners from each year with the apppropriate models from my own register of machines but it would save me some time if you could help me out.
Mal

Hi Mal, Would you consider doing the plate titled 'metric to inch chart for model AM 260 lathe' Hercus part no 5h598 for those of us using conversion gears on an ATM. Ive thought about getting them done locally but the sign/engraving shop near me tend to gold plate the prices a bit. I would take 3 if it happens. Keep up the good work. Cheers Rohan.

Originally Posted by rockettgpw

Hi Mal, Would you consider doing the plate titled 'metric to inch chart for model AM 260 lathe' Hercus part no 5h598 for those of us using conversion gears on an ATM. Ive thought about getting them done locally but the sign/engraving shop near me tend to gold plate the prices a bit. I would take 3 if it happens. Keep up the good work. Cheers Rohan.

Hi Rohan,
Check with Hercus they may still have some of those. If they no longer intend to supply them, I can remake them but will need to pass it by Hercus as it is branded with there name. I will also need a physical sample if I am to produce a true replica so if anyone has one they can loan me for a few days it would be appreciated.
Mal

Hi Mal,

I have one that I bought from one of the Durdens a while ago (2010) fw444400 on eBay, currently not active.

There has been a bit of Hercus stuff dumped on eBay recently by jr444400 - NEDRUD SALES eBay store.

Seems as though this may be Jim Durden still.

Whether he has more plates in stock or whether he would produce another batch of plates is the question.

Note the plate I bought appears to be screen printed rather than etched so could be easily scratched and wasn't fitted to the lathe. I have several A6 laminated cards instead.

I can lend it to you if you require it.

MetInchConversionPlate.jpg

--
Regards,
David

Originally Posted by gherringh

Hi Mal,

I have one that I bought from one of the Durdens a while ago (2010) fw444400 on eBay, currently not active.

There has been a bit of Hercus stuff dumped on eBay recently by jr444400 - NEDRUD SALES eBay store.

Seems as though this may be Jim Durden still.

Whether he has more plates in stock or whether he would produce another batch of plates is the question.

Note the plate I bought appears to be screen printed rather than etched so could be easily scratched and wasn't fitted to the lathe. I have several A6 laminated cards instead.

I can lend it to you if you require it.

MetInchConversionPlate.jpg

--
Regards,
David

Hi David,
They seem to have gone to screen printed ones later on, I have a new 9am for a 9" lathe from Jim Durden myself. They must have been trying to save costs and took the cheaper option and reduced them to a one colour print as well. I think the etched one is a better option and I like the original red and black colour scheme, it looks a little classier, at least you can restore the etched ones if the paint wears out. A loan of you plate would be good, even if I etch mine I would like the dimensions to be the same.
Mal

Mal,

I struggled a bit with reflections but these are the best so far... I was under the impression that the A was from 1958. Am I wrong?

Also, if you need the metric thread chart for copying, let me know.

Bob.

120 (Large).jpg 067 (Large).jpg128 (Large).JPG

close enough Bob, 1959 numbers are 6662-7118

I am still looking for photos of plates for machines from 1972-1977, 1962-1964 and 1939-1950. This is for the 9" imperial A models, which will be the first made. Only 2 types have shown up so far.
Mal

I now know there have only been two types of plates produced, I still need the imperial gearbox plates for the years 1962-1964, serial numbers 7973-9639 as this is where the change took place. All the others years are now on record, many thanks to the owners who have helped out with photos. Just have to approach the Durden family to see if they have any objections to using the Hercus company name and logo, as it is an intergral part of the plate if it is to be a true reproduction.
Mal

Hi Mal

The following information is probably of little use to you as I cannot find all the info I had on my lathe, can't even find the serial No, it seems to have disappeared.

For what it's worth it's a 9" imperial lathe model AR made I think in the 1950's.

Attached is a rough snap of the gearbox plate.

Ken

Might be time for a visit to Specsavers Ken . With a serial number of 13328, your AR is newer than my 1969 version.

Bob.

Originally Posted by neksmerj

Hi Mal

The following information is probably of little use to you as I cannot find all the info I had on my lathe, can't even find the serial No, it seems to have disappeared.

For what it's worth it's a 9" imperial lathe model AR made I think in the 1950's.

Attached is a rough snap of the gearbox plate.

Ken

Hi Ken,
Well I don't know what numbers are on the rest of the machine but the one on the gearbox is from 1970.
Mal