vintage lathe spindle size question

[ching0n]

I'm tooling up an old atlas 618 (spindle size 1"x10tpi) and while scouring through ebay, I can't help but wonder if a few listings of non-atlas/craftsman available spindle accessories are "mis-labeled". I understand there's different spindle and thread sizes but was it common back in the day to have more oddball sizes like "1-1/8 10 tpi" or "1-1/2 10 tpi"? I know there's a few variations in that diameter in 8 tpi form but a few of these are listed as "bore size".

Reason I ask is there's some deals to be found if these are mislabeled and just so happen to be 1"-10tpi I require.

Thanks.

 

[RTM]

I don't know, but I've seen those oddball sizes listed on tools and accessories, so I doubt it is an error that many times

 

[Roberts210]

I have picked a lot of cool stuff up off of ebay because the seller mis-labeled it, and I knew what it was. That said, I've also been screwed buying things on ebay that I wasn't very well acquainted with, but the seller said it would fit my machine. Then when I got around to installing it, it wouldn't fit, and it was too late for a refund.

 

[dutchgray]

Some items may be incorrectly listed and may actually be 1" x 10 tpi whilst others will be very weird odd sizes.
There were an awful lot of odd lathe spindle threads produced, sometimes even on the same lathes.

 

[alfadan]

Maybe some are listing the bore size instead of thread size like they're 'sposta

 

[Aaron_W]

Probably some are mislabeled / mismeasured, but many are probably just a weird size.

Lots of oddball sizes on vintage lathes, particularly when you factor in the woodworking lathes as well. 1"-8 and 1-1/4"-8 are common wood lathe spindle threads.

Some early Craftsman (Atlas) 6" metal lathes also used 1"-8 instead of 1"-10. Not sure, but don't think those early spindles will work on the later lathes that came with 1"-10.

Myford (a popular British brand of small lathes) used 1"-12 and 1-1/8"-12


You also have to watch out for the non-Atlas, AA / Craftsman 6" lathes as many people get them confused with the much better Atlas made lathes. They have a completely different 1/2"-20 spindle.

So maybe some mis-identified bargains out there, but you are taking a chance by assuming the seller knows enough to correctly measure the threads but not what lathe the spindle came out of.

 

[tombell572]

When threaded spindle noses were the rule it was common for lathe builders to use a unique or uncommon thread spec often arrived at as a derivative of the spindle diameter designed for the lathe. I have a Seneca Falls lathe with a 1 7/16" x 12 TPI thread and a Sheldon with 1 3/4" x 8 TPI thread, both uncommon sizes.

When looking for lathe tooling with your thread, I would ask the seller how he arrived at determining the advertised thread. Many sellers have no clue and use a tape measure while rounding up or down. How a seller answers that question should tell you something. As stated above, you may find a bargain or end up with something useless for your machine.

Tom B.

 

[Joe Huld]

When threaded spindle noses were the rule it was common for lathe builders to use a unique or uncommon thread spec often arrived at as a derivative of the spindle diameter designed for the lathe. I have a Seneca Falls lathe with a 1 7/16" x 12 TPI thread and a Sheldon with 1 3/4" x 8 TPI thread, both uncommon sizes.

When looking for lathe tooling with your thread, I would ask the seller how he arrived at determining the advertised thread. Many sellers have no clue and use a tape measure while rounding up or down. How a seller answers that question should tell you something. As stated above, you may find a bargain or end up with something useless for your machine.

Tom B.

I have a seneca falls with the 1 7/16 - 12 spindle and over the years I've managed to accumulate 5 chucks for it including a jacobs 59B. I also have a 1 3/8 - 8 for a 8 inch south bend that has been waiting for a new home for a year.