Another mystery no. 100

Hello, I bought an old ML7 about 25 years ago, it came with a lot of extras, including the one below, I have never figured out how to use it. The brass disk is about 200mm diameter with several tracks of drilled holes from 7 to 144 per track, as in a dividing head. Now seems like a good time to put it in workable condition. Has anyone an idea what it is , who designed it, was it in a magazine,how to mount it, etc, any info. gratefully received, Ian

Seems like an attachment for manually cutting gears using the lathe....?

Its a prototype of a player for the 7" records.

Hi,

It is a Colin Walton Wheel & Pinion Cutting Attachment, usually mounted on the cross-slide of a lathe, utilising the small Angle Bracket shown in the bottom right of your attached photo.

Regards,

With rows of drilled holes, surely it would be a master disc for an orchestrion?

George B.

I think you're right, any idea what tune?

Its an odd one. Some more pics from different angles would help. And what does that ball-handled lever do or move?

Obviously an indexing device of some sort but does not look like any of the usaual ME type projects. Clock making perhaps?

My guess is that is a dividing attachment designed to be fitted to the back end of the spindle, and held though the spindle.

If so it assume the intended workpieces are of forms - such as gears or clocks wheel as Hopper suggests - that do not penetrate very far into the chuck or faceplate.

Difficult to see what that elaborate handle and link mechanism does - it seems a bit involved for simple indexing. I wonder if it was something to do with ornamental turning, using special attachments on a conventional centre-lathe.

" Lot of extras ". Do those include anything that looks related to this device, so might give a clue?

It is, as Adrian Nicolson says, a Colin Walton Wheel and pinion cutter, with a few bits missing. Armed with a name, I found pictures and words on line. Should be fairly straight forward to set up, many thanks.

Its definitely not an early music player,

regards

Ian

Yes definitely Colin Walton Wheel & Pinion Cutter. Well done Adrian, you get the prize for identifying it first.

John

Thanks John...and the link you have added...actually links to the one I bought from Malcolm at PennyFarthing Tools.

Ian...look at the second picture in the link that John has supplied (above). You will see the main assembly attached to the Angle Plate, in the vertical position.

If you also look again at that picture, you will see an additional tapped hole, in the top edge of the main block secured to the angle plate. This additional tapped hole allows you to position the attachment horizontally (relative to the angle plate)...in instances when it would be beneficial (or easier) for the operating handle to be mounted in a horizontal plane.

Regards,

Adrian

It does look as though the previous owner had made a slight adaption to enable the long rod to pass through the headstock. Perhaps the bits you have include a small milling spindle or cutting frame.
Anyway a nice design and it looks like the sliding rods are bronze bushed aswell. Could you give some dimensions, like the diameter of the main sliding shaft and the thickness of the block.

That's a shame. I rather like the idea of it playing the theme tune from 'Music while you Work' as you're doing some turning. (Coo, that dates me a bit!)

George B.

Hi Bazyle,

The two main shafts are 1/2" diameter (I think? they are Silver Steel).

The Main Block is 3/4" thick x 2.5" wide x 3.5" high.

Also...if you look back, at Ian's picture, the shaft with the Triangular shaped piece attached (bottom left of picture) swaps out with the plain second (or middle) shaft in Ian's picture of the main assembly...to give you a sliding Tailstock support for a Pinion on an arbor.

Whereas, on the photos shown in the link posted by John (Journeyman)...aka my one...It shows the attachment fitted with a short (potentially sacrificial) support/holder for the cutting of a Pinion Head.

All in all...it is a very simple...(the best ideas usually are, IMHO)....but very effective attachment (designed by Colin Walton) that doesn't take up a lot of room...and being so compact...can be used on a wide range of machines.

Personally, I am certainly really pleased that I managed to find one ))

Regards,

Adrian

Edited By Adrian Nicolson on 04/04/2020 14:09:18

Thanks Adrian. The tailstock support makes sense too.

I found another picture of what might be an earlier less refined version.

Hi Bazyle,

Yes...I would agree with you, that your link shows what is probably, an earlier version of this Attachment.

One thing though...in the second picture in your link...the seller shows a copy of the original single sheet of "Instructions", from Colin Walton Designs...which was supplied with the attachment from new.

On a personal note: I am still trying to source either a copy...or a scan of this "Wheel and Pinion Cutting Attachment Instructions Sheet"...just for completeness (or possibly, my OCD).

...Don't get me wrong, it isn't difficult to figure out how to use this attachment...and what permutations are feasible/viable...without having this Instruction Sheet in my hands...

...but it would be nice to have a copy of that sheet, just the same...if anyone could possibly help or oblige?

Regards,

Adrian

If anyone has the Instruction sheet Adrian mentions I would like a copy if it could be loaded onto this site.

As Bazyle says mine has 116mm length of galvanised metric M12 threaded rod attached to the top main shaft,which looks out of place. My first thoughts were that this rod was to pass through lathe head spindle and to use a chuck as the holder with a seperate cutter drive motor. Maybe the original owner was thinking the same. Evidently this was not was intended, I have now removed it it.

Trying to loosely fit the attachment to my Myford throws up a lot of questions. I wonder if Andrian might post a couple of photos of his set up, it would help me trying to find what the missing pieces on mine are?

Post number 7 here:

https://mb.nawcc.org/threads/gear-cutter.152949/

Many, many thanks DC31k...for the link to the "paperwork" aka Instructions & Description for the Colin Walton Wheel & Pinion Cutting Attachment. It is very much appreciated

Ian...I am more than happy to help you out...In fact, we may be able to assist one another...I have sent you a "message"...

Regards,

Adrian

Edited By Adrian Nicolson on 05/04/2020 16:38:32