Hi from Oz

Hi everyone,

I'm here for a couple of reasons - to identify my father's old bench lathe (which I've inherited) and, down the track, to get some tips on using it. I've created an album with photos of the lathe. Not sure how I link to the album, but I'll insert some photos below. I think it's a 3" throw (should have measured it, shouldn't I?). I'm pretty sure my father used it as a teenager in the 1930's and it looks a bit like an old Myford but I can't find a maker's name anywhere. I'm in Australia (so I suppose it could be some local Myford clone). My father used it extensively (until he passed away) to make parts for a 1933 MG (J4 replica) he was restoring but never finished.

I'm a mechanical engineer by (university) training and have a lot of experience watching many different manufacturing operations (defence and automotive) but no real experience in machining myself apart from a mandatory 1 week workshop training course for engineering students 30 years ago. My hobbies are silversmithing (jewellery) and building electric guitars, so I'm hoping to use the lathe for guitar-related duties like machining hardware (eg. knobs and bridges) and winding pickups.

Hi from Cairns and welcome to the forum. Yes, it looks quite similar to a Myford ML1 but not quite, and as you say, no name cast into the bed. It looks quite English though, with T slotted cross slide and tool clamp etc. It seems most Aussie lathes of that era were the slightly larger industrial/commercial workshop size rather than model engineer size, but who knows?

Have you had a look on lathes.co.uk? They have a list of Aussie lathe makers and pics etc here

**LINK**

Whatever it is, it looks like a good old machine. I have a Drummond of similar vintage that still does all I need in the shed for old motorbike work.

The best book I know for the beginner on lathes of this vintage would be L H Sparey's "The Amateur's Lathe". It's still in print and cheap enough from Book Depository in the UK. It includes a good section on sharpening lathe tool bits too, always a bit of a learning curve at the beginning.

Have fun!

Hello John, welcome to the forum.

Possibly a Corbett?

**LINK**

Check that page there are lots of variations on the theme although none are exactly like your all the features of yours are somewhere!

It looks well-used but cared for, it should serve well what those sorts of tasks and more.

Neil

Edited By Neil Wyatt on 13/09/2016 09:35:23

Nice to see an old lathe being looked after and used. Hope you have lots of interesting hours with it.

G'day from western Sydney .

Looks like it has been looked after , can't see any damage from dropped chucks , a bit of elbow grease , a few drops of oil and i'm sure you will have a machine that will serve you well

Ian.

Thanks Hopper. Yes I have had a look at lathes.co.uk but haven't been through all of the Australian lathes. I'll have a good look at them and report back! It does seem odd that someone would manufacture a lathe and not put their name on it.

JM

Thanks Neil - yes it does look similar in some ways, but lighter.

If I ever find out what it is I'll post the details.

JM

Thanks for all of your responses. As I mention above - if I find out what it is I'll post the details.

John

Thanks - yep, dad looked after it well.

JM

Thanks Ian - dad was a perfectionist in many ways (not necessarily a good thing...) and he did take care of the lathe. It hasn't run for about 20 years, but I've kept it lubricated and work all the controls back and forwards every now and then. I'm looking forward to firing it up again. I can still clearly remember the droning rumble it makes.

JM

Has a strong resemblance to an RandA Type B as shown on the lathes.co.uk website. The shape of the apron of the carriage, the single foot mounting, and the shape of the bracket holding the leadscrew are all very similar. Also the shape of the changewheel carrier, and the shape of the headstock casting, are very similar. Suggest you do a quick internet search for RandA Type B lathe and see if yours matches any of those that have pictures posted on the ME or other model engineering websites.

Couldn't see any similarity to any of the other lathes on the lathes.co.uk website credited to Australian manufacturers.

I have a similar vintage machine (an Ideal Type A from about 1929) which has no makers name anywhere on it. Apparently this was not uncommon if the lathes were to be sold under alternative badging, which was often simply a transfer applied to the finish-painted machine.

Good luck with your search, Geoff P.

Thanks Geoff, and I think you're on to something. It does look a lot like a RandA, except for some minor differences I can see in the castings. The dates would be about right too: late 20's to mid 30's.

John