Can you identify ?

Hi this stand came with a lathe i purchased but was not matched to the lathe (60s) i suspect it may be the bed and stand of a wood lathe but it looks over engineered fo that is is very heavy

any help appreciated

I have seen bench stands similar to this with what looks like 2 tailstocks mounted on them. They are used for between centres inspection of turned parts.

Martin C

Hello Gary,

Wood lathes generally come with round bar beds in my experience, the one shown here is a prismatic bed which suggests much more precision and likely to be of US or Continental manufacture.

But what it was made for I have no idea I'm afraid .

Regards

Brian

Is it mean to take some form of foot operated  vice or clamp or rollers  whereby something may be clamped along its length. The clamps slide along for a variety of lengths

If it had 2 tail stocks it could be used as a setting stand for something

Edited By Sam Longley 1 on 26/02/2018 17:56:53

Thanks for replies guys im now wondering if i can find any use for it ... it seems a shame to scrap it as its probably 100 years old or so. Without compatible tailstocks/fittings i guess its going to be tricky mounting anything on it although the top surface is parallel

My guess would be that it's the bed from and early to mid 19th century plain turning metal lathe ie no main lead screw or rack, the saddle positioned where needed for working with the cross slide and any longitudinal movement being by using the top side. I think the "flat & inverted v" guide was favoured by the Americans - looks very similar to that used on the Ames Chicopee (as on lathes.co.uk web site). Probably nothing really remarkable I suspect there were many made for use in local workshops but quite a nice piece of old machinery.

The bars underneath suggest (to me anyway) that the machine would have originally been treadle powered - what do think apprentices were for?

It would be criminal to scrap it. At the very least the legs can be used on another small lathe, eg Drummond, but with the bed it could be used as the basis fro something like a Rose Engine.

Here is an interesting book on lathe bed design. **LINK**

regards

I dont think i would have the heart to scrap it but it is now taking up space so i need to find a home for it i just for the life of me cant think of a use for it myself.