New Lathe, well maybe not "new"

But new to me. A friend of mine who has an antiques shop called me up last week and said "I have a chap here trying to sell me a lathe, do you want it?

What is it? was the obvious first question, "it's nice" was the answer so essentially I bought a pig in a poke. I had absolutely no idea at all as to what I had bought but I wasn't disappointed with the purchase, it is a lovely antique lathe with all the "bits" and it is actually in a very useable condition. I will not be using it of course, I have something else in mind for it (no - I will not be cutting it up/otherwise destroying it) but if anyone could give me any idea as to it's possible origins (other than from Jeff at the antique shop) I would be grateful as I am going to be asked the question innumerable times I would imagine.

22" between centres and 31/4" from the bed to the centre of the chuck. Lovely thing it is too. No chuck key though

graham.

Seen one of these before.

It's a lathe.

Would I be correct to say that the bed design is one generally more popular with USA made lathes?

Yes, but I think it is ambidextrous though as there is a steady rest (shown not so well in the top photograph) that looks "woodworking-ish".

graham.

If it were mine I would send a pic to Tony at "lathes" and hope he can come up with an answer for you. A lovely looking machine and one that could arguably be described as an instrument makers lathe.

Rik

Graham

Can't help with the lathe, but it looks quality.

Any news on the EDM yet?

Ian P

Looks old, Pre 1910? have you measured the tapers?, some are patent to one lathe manufacturer.

Frank

Graham,

It has general look of WolfJahn

**LINK**

The angle scale for that top slide is rather impressive ... Could you do a detail photo, please.

MichaelG.

It is like a George Adams 2 1/2 clockmakers lathe (bigger than watchmakers) though it is a bit more elaborate than one of those. Hence the hand rest - not for woodworking.

Interesting that you should mention George Adams, Bazyle

The opening paragraph on this page is quite revealing.

MichaelG.

Graham,

Have a look at the Lorch Model A

HTH

Rod

My father told me that there were variations on a V and flat lathes beds about well prior to WW II.

I would like to see a close up of the whole angle setting area and one of the lead screw dials. I have seen a lathe some where with the angle scales and a long pointer like this one but as there appears to be 2 scales I'd be inclined to think that in this case it's an add on. Also from it's appearance I wonder if the slide rest actually belongs to the lathe, Is the slide rest fitted to a block which is shaped to fit the bed and also looks like it has more age in the same way the other bed fittings do?

John

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Hi Graham,

This posting turned up over on MEM:

**LINK**

It looks very much as if yours is an early Lorch

Rod

Edited By Roderick Jenkins on 02/07/2015 11:35:16

Rod, I'd tend to agree, unless it's a copy.

Ian S C

Looking at the unusually long travel on the compound and the long and elaborate angle indicator which would increase the accuracy for angle setting, I would hazard a guess that this machine is designed for taoer turning.

Phil

TAPER!! turning that is!

Those ring-nuts 'ring' a bell.

I remember an article in an old ME on someone making a replacement one for an old lathe - now if we could find the article I bet it's the same lathe...

Neil

I think those weird shaped nuts are an English thing. However I dont think that it is one of these

**LINK**

Nice nuts - can put a crow bar through them to do some English heavy duty turning. I'd guess the slide rest - the name of the cross and compound, is I suspect continental or at least doesn't belong with the lathe. Hence the couple of questions I asked.

John

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The last illustration of the Lorch model A iv on Tony's site shows ring nuts and a similar unbalanced handle on the"topslide".

Rod (possibly flogging a dead horse)