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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Nov 2017
    Location
    Geelong, Australia
    Age
    57
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    2,651

    Default Amta-Ward 2A turret/capstan lathe

    My wife and I have an agreement. She definitely thinks I've lost the plot, but accepts that its reasonably harmless for me to fill up my workshop with useless bits of old iron. The deal is that there are no more sheds, and I'm not allowed any space in hers.
    I've taken that as being "while she's alive"....

    So this piece of vintage industrial history waved out to me, the price was right, fitted on the ute, and the owner could load it with his forklift.
    So it followed me home...





    Came with a decent box of collets - round, hex and square.




    And a another one of tooling




    It was complete and running, but I'm not a fan of 80 year old vintage wiring so set up a 3ph-3ph VFD temporarily so I could properly test it.
    Loving the clutched spindle and the almost instant high/low speed selection. Turret has leadscrew/power-feed.
    Its definitely a bit worn (mainly in the saddle and ram) but I can live with that.
    Would love to do a nice restoration on it, but that might have to wait until I retire! For now I'll just try and scrape the main dried up oil/swarf residue and sort out a few little things that need adjusting or repairing.




    Any other turret lathe owners out there??

    Steve

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2014
    Location
    South of Adelaide
    Posts
    1,225

    Default

    I have the same lathe including the bar feeder, its just in storage until i can build a new shed. I think i even have a bit of a manual.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Nov 2017
    Location
    Geelong, Australia
    Age
    57
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by snapatap View Post
    I have the same lathe including the bar feeder, its just in storage until i can build a new shed. I think i even have a bit of a manual.
    Awesome! I can tell my wife I'm not the only one....

    Have you used it in the past, or is it just one you bought and put straight into storage?

    Steve

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Dural NSW
    Age
    82
    Posts
    1,203

    Default Capstan Lathe

    Quote Originally Posted by OxxAndBert View Post
    Awesome! I can tell my wife I'm not the only one....

    Have you used it in the past, or is it just one you bought and put straight into storage?

    Steve
    Steve
    I am a particular fan of Capstan Lathes & worked one of these as an apprentice 63 yrs ago, machining accurate & repetitive components.
    After they are set up & running, they are like music to ones ears.
    AWA at Ashfield NSW had a whole bunch of Capstan Lathes, Herbert, Amta Ward, & Ward & others.
    Right on 7-30 am in the morning when the horn went they would all start up, & components would be produced in big numbers.
    Very good memories, pleased you got hold of this lathe, & the collets & tooling are real winners.
    Bruce

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Location
    York, North Yorkshire UK
    Posts
    6,439

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by OxxAndBert View Post
    My wife and I have an agreement. She definitely thinks I've lost the plot, but accepts that its reasonably harmless for me to fill up my workshop with useless bits of old iron. The deal is that there are no more sheds, and I'm not allowed any space in hers.
    I've taken that as being "while she's alive"....

    So this piece of vintage industrial history waved out to me, the price was right, fitted on the ute, and the owner could load it with his forklift.
    So it followed me home...





    Came with a decent box of collets - round, hex and square.




    And a another one of tooling




    It was complete and running, but I'm not a fan of 80 year old vintage wiring so set up a 3ph-3ph VFD temporarily so I could properly test it.
    Loving the clutched spindle and the almost instant high/low speed selection. Turret has leadscrew/power-feed.
    Its definitely a bit worn (mainly in the saddle and ram) but I can live with that.
    Would love to do a nice restoration on it, but that might have to wait until I retire! For now I'll just try and scrape the main dried up oil/swarf residue and sort out a few little things that need adjusting or repairing.




    Any other turret lathe owners out there??

    Steve
    Hi Steve,

    The Ward 2A, 3A and the 5's were very popular war time machines, particularly in munitions. I see from the boxes of tooling that you have the threading boxes. Sadly I watched several of those machines simply broken up for scrap iron a few years ago.

    There is not much to go wrong with them, you have a nice find there.

    I remember when I bought the Myford, my mentor at the time said that I should have bought a bigger lathe and then proceeded to demonstrate taking a 1/2" DOC on a 12" inch cast iron pulley blank on a Ward 5.
    Best Regards:
    Baron J.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Nov 2017
    Location
    Geelong, Australia
    Age
    57
    Posts
    2,651

    Default

    Thanks Bruce. Nice to hear from someone who has run one production.
    There's not a huge amount on Youtube showing turret lathes in action, but I've watched everything I could find to try and get a bit of a feel for them. I can definitely see what you mean about them when they are nicely set up and in full swing.

    At the moment I don't have anything of large quantity to churn out, so it might be more practical for me to put a normal chuck on it instead of the original collet chuck. Mainly just to reduce time with different diameters.
    Apparently the 2a has a tapered spindle nose with threaded holes specifically to allow mounting of chucks, faceplates and custom fixtures.
    I can see it being really useful for operations where there isn't a huge amount of setup for just a couple of parts, and its more convenient than trying to do it on a normal lathe. Things like initial drilling for bores using power feed, tapping and external threading of standard sizes come to mind for a start. Will have to look out for a Coventry or similar die head...

    Steve

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
    Age
    56
    Posts
    1,416

    Default

    I had a 3A from memory, but sadly lost in divorce, so scrap man in to clean up.
    As was an older model mid size horizontal mill and a Robland cabinet maker 3.2m panel saw etc.
    At least I'm happier, can't say the same for my machines, lol
    Using Tapatalk

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Nov 2017
    Location
    Geelong, Australia
    Age
    57
    Posts
    2,651

    Default

    Dave J - what a bummer to lose the machines, particularly to the scrap man. Glad there's a positive side to it.
    I count myself very lucky that I still get on well with my wife after almost 35yrs of marriage. Not sure if we're genuinely compatible or if we're both just too lazy to fight or leave!!

    BaronJ - yes, there's at least one threading box in the tooling. A couple of chasers too but I haven't checked whether they are a useful size.
    I suspect probably not, as the guy it came from had replaced this lathe with a Herbert that had a much larger spindle bore. I suspect that he would have kept any common size chasers to use on the Herbert.
    I've watched a few videos of proper self releasing die heads in action. Man they cut threads quickly!!!

    Steve

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
    Age
    56
    Posts
    1,416

    Default

    Yeah I was the same, I had 26 years in, now have 7 years in a new relationship, 3 years married and a lot happier with life in general and day today stuff.
    Yeah I lost some posecions along with a 24 inch Alba shaper, but happiness can't be bought.
    We only have one life and only live once. Took me many years to realise this.
    Using Tapatalk

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Mar 2014
    Location
    South of Adelaide
    Posts
    1,225

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by OxxAndBert View Post
    Awesome! I can tell my wife I'm not the only one....

    Have you used it in the past, or is it just one you bought and put straight into storage?

    Steve
    It went straight into storage, It was in really good condition and the price was right, so i couldn't pass it up. i bought it to use with coventry die heads and for drilling, i plan to put a 3 jaw chuck on it as the collet chuck is a pain unless you have 100's of parts to do.

    I plan to thin my die head and chaser collection out over Christmas, i can let you know what i have to part with if you are interested.

  11. #11
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Murray Bridge S Aust.
    Age
    71
    Posts
    5,942

    Default

    Pretty sure mine is a Ward 2A also, not seen in a while as it's also in storage, no 3phase power at present. Picked it up for $200.
    Our local second hand building supply place has/had a couple there for $1,800 each, they were still there last time I was there!!!!!
    If anyone has some bits for them, that are no longer required, I'm also interested.
    Kryn
    To grow old is mandatory, growing up is optional.

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Nov 2017
    Location
    Geelong, Australia
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    Default

    Snapatap - at the moment I don't have any die heads or chasers so definitely let me know what you've got when you thin the collection.

    Kryn - I reckon the ones at your local building supplies place won't be going anywhere in a hurry at that price...

    Steve

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Location
    York, North Yorkshire UK
    Posts
    6,439

    Default

    Hi Guys,

    The scrap price for cast iron is 7 pence per pound ! Not even worth using the fuel to take to the scrappy. At one point they would come and take old machines and appliances away for free, particularly washing machines. Now they don't even want them. The shops that sell you a new one want to take your old stuff away.
    Best Regards:
    Baron J.

  14. #14
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    Nov 2017
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    Default

    Ive been wondering about what was used for tapping heads, then looking through the tooling I found this in the box.






    pretty sure it’s a shop made tapping head. The dog clutch drives the tap, then when it disengages you reverse the spindle and the pin catches on the back of the body and will drive the tap in reverse to remove it.
    Likely a common idea but I’ve not come across it before.

    Steve.

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Location
    York, North Yorkshire UK
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    Default

    Hi Steve,

    Yes you are correct ! Used for both taps and dies. There should be a 1.5" inch die holder in there as well.
    From the picture it looks to have been well hammered.

    I was going to mention earlier, but forgot ! It might be an advantage to be able to use 1" inch tooling on your press. The friend I mentioned has various holders that insert in the ram to hold broaches and punches. They are based on some Colchester turret tooling he has.
    Best Regards:
    Baron J.

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