Tell me about this lathe

[John Timmins]

I've seen this thing on Craigslist twice for $250. There are no other details other than it's heavy. It's in Palm Coast , Florida so I imagine somebody brought it down when they retired and moved here.

The short lathe ways are what's interesting, and there's not a lot of room to put something between centers if there was a tailstock.

I suspect this was designed for some special purpose making short pieces. I can't figure out why there's no support below the ends of the ways.

The base must be really strong to keep the ways true.

Anybody know anything about this ? Special purpose piece work ?

 

[454ragtop]

Production machine meant to be setup and then run off a slew of small round widgets. Not a good choice for a home or small shop making one off parts, no cross slide, tailstock or means to move the slide along the ways, other than loosening the lock and pushing it by hand.
Jim

 

[zkling]

2x what 454ragtop said. I believe they are called second operation lathes. Designed to be setup for one purpose. That looks like a cut off specific lathe, maybe for parting or grooving. Very rarely would that be useful for the home shop. Everything you can do on that lathe, you can do on a standard engine lathe. Not so much the other way around.

I would pass, especially at $250, unless you need a second op lathe. Not to mention the questionable grinding wheel chucked up in the spindle chuck

 

[spongerich]

Those are generally referred to as "2nd operation" lathes. As 454 said, they're usually setup for a specific operation. It would have limited utility in a home shop.. no threading, no tailstock, no compound, doesn't appear to have a proper cross slide, etc... if it's cheap enough it might be worth picking up... worst case, I'd find a good use for the table and chip tray.

 

[kevin47]

Worth picking up...? You bring home every interesting looking piece 'o **** you see...You'll end up just like me...With a WHOLE warehouse full of machines I've collected over 35 years...A word from the wise...Unless you see a immediate and specific need for it, don't do it..!!

 

[kd4gij]

Looks like it may have been for starter and Generator work