Today's Mystery Object

For amusement [intellectual exercise] only ...

This ebay listing intrigues me: **LINK**

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/WATCHMAKERS-LATHE-TOOL-POST-WITH-CUTTER-POSSIBLY-LORCH/232781285704

It is clearly a 'contraption' ... So the questions are:

1. What is it made from ?
2. What possible use would it have ?
3. Why is the seller "away" until 02-Jul-2019 ?

MichaelG.

1. Steel. Does look a bit like a slotted "lantern" toolpost with the end opposite the thumb screw going into a tee slot. Bit of a broken tap in there as well as a cut up thread plate.

2. Thread chasing or as a full form threading tool.

3. Could not see that bit.

J

PS Any thoughts on this thread Michael? You probably know more about these lathes than me.

.

It appeared as a 'banner' at the top of the listing when I viewed it.

MichaelG.

Yes just spotted it, well these Aussies do like to go walk about

This is what happens when you're hanging upside down all the time, instead of being in the centre of the map, at the top.

Seller might be on an extended world tour or not needing the junk sales income while working for the government for a period. It looks like it is just one of those things left on a at a ridiculous price to reserve the location. Probably homemade as I would expect Lorch to chamfer or round the top. And it is incomplete anyway. Maybe worth $5 including postage.

I think when trying to sell such a thing, if it were actually in good condition, it would be better to take out the broken tap chaser as while a practical technique looks a bit tatty.

"I found these three bits in the bottom of a box and managed to fit them together at random."

Neil

Quite so. Even such an august personage as Dr Bromley has a box of junk in his shed .

If this is a tool post of any description I cannot see how to tighten it in the Tee or compound slot. The body and the T nut part appear to be machined as one piece. Why would anyone place that broken tap where it is ?

regards

Edited By Oldiron on 21/09/2018 16:05:17

.

Here, for comparison, you can see what proper Lorch ones look like: **LINK**

https://mb.nawcc.org/threads/geneva-steady-rest-and-tool-posts.102500/

MichaelG.

The post is missing it's ring(s). The ring slides over the body with the cutting tool on top. When you clamp the tool with the top screw, it also pulls up on the tee clamping it to the underside of the slot.