Lorch WW watchmakers Lathe

I am sure there are numbers of you out there that have played with these before.
Managed to persuade an aquantance to part with a Lorch WW Watchmalkers lathe. (10mm with 100mm swing) that was stored in his shed.Came with headstock, 2 tailstocks, tool post and a tool rest. 3 Jaw chuck and faceplate (?) 11 collets .75 to 10mm, as well as 10 stepped and draw bar. All in good condition bar the one that is somewhat splayed, and appear to be in the original box. Assorted other odds and sods. Has legs treadle and flywheel and bench top. Working fine.
I know of its local provenance from late 1930s in a local garge/motor dealer. The bed is straight with some scars just under the headstock one or two very minor high édges here that dressed out easily. All in all in VG condition considering it's age. I am guessing early 1900s ? The only issue was a little surface pitting just in the spindle caused by the ever present hornets nest. Cleaned out well and collets seat .

Any thoughts on best refurb options, what and how? Has an not unattractive patina on most surfaces.

Regards

Terry

Thing of beauty. Are you going to build a stand and refit the treadle?

I have both legs of the stand so part of project will include new bench top etc

TH

Lovely Machine many ,many of them still in daily use around the planet, most have have a small electric motor added these days, highly accurate machine, are the collets 6mm or 8mm, I will find one myself one day, have looked at a few unfortunately due to their popularity the seller seem to always want stupid prices, fairly rare to see them with the legs and treadle. Do you intend to completely restore it or are you happy to use it as is.

I thought 10mm however given my novice status I may be wrong. They measure out at around 9.97.

The plan is to restore thus the request for thoughts on the best options. However it might get the best of me and I'll start using as is as I do have a small electric motor ready to go. Once that happens it will probably mean a long delay in a restore.

TH

Basically they just need to be cleaned originally they are just polished bare metal so just a lot of elbow grease, I have a Durden thicknesser I am going to restore made the mistake of putting it use that was 8 years ago,
so if you are going to restore it don't make my mistake.

Nice one.
Those Americans sure know how to design machine tools.

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Originally Posted by nadroj

Nice one.
Those Americans sure know how to design machine tools.

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The Germans did some good stuff as well. Lorch I beleive was German Co estab 1895 and ran until the 1960s or so.

I thought I might catch someone out. :)

Before Lorch two Americans named Webster and Whitcomb developed a type of watchmakers' lathe and collet system that became established as the worldwide industry standard. That's where WW comes from.

Derbyshire & Webster Whitcombe Watcmakers' Lathes

Quote:

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Originally Posted by nadroj

I thought I might catch someone out. :)

Before Lorch two Americans named Webster and Whitcomb developed a type of watchmakers' lathe and collet system that became established as the worldwide industry standard. That's where WW comes from.

Derbyshire & Webster Whitcombe Watcmakers' Lathes

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Not fair Nadroj, not fair

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Originally Posted by Tham60

I thought 10mm however given my novice status I may be wrong. They measure out at around 9.97. ......

TH

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Yes, That would be a "10mm" collet (the spindle bore is probably 10.0mm). Lorch 10mm lathe names seem to start with "L" I think what you have is a Lorch LL (https://www.nielsmachines.com/en/sol...1900-1920.html). It is easy to find info on more modern LL's, but that version of tailstocks is not so common.

Restoration wise, it depends on you. Do you want to make it look shiny and as it came from the factory yesterday? Or do you just want to clean, remove any rust, fix any worn or broken bits, but leave the lathe largely looking as it does now? Perhaps set it up as it was with the treadle, but add a motor to it to make it more useful?

I would disassemble the spindle from the headstock to clean any accumulated dirt and dried oil before any thought of running it.

The L series collets are long collets. My much later L series lathe has Morse 1 taper in the tailstock and also takes a Morse 1 taper in the headstock as well as the 10mm collet. Perhaps yours is the same?

Brake, or what? No amount of research has uncovered any illustrations of what this might be for. How does it attach? Item is loose on treadle/crank of 10 mm Lorch. There appears to be a couple of bushes missing that would reatain it on the shaft (which is tapered). Note two key ways which are at about 15 degress apart.

No amount of searches has uncovered similar set up. Then of course my search engine and IT skills coiuld be wanting

Those parts might not be Lorch.
It might be worth contacting Tony at Lathes.co.uk to see if he is able to provide info (if he replies!)

Haven't had much luck with him previously. But thanx.

How’s the project going?