Identify lathe

Trying to identify this small lathe - 2.5” from bed to centre, 6” between centres and 22” overall. Would like to get it running and cannot see a makers name anywhere,

Edited By JasonB on 31/05/2022 19:19:56

I thought "Rollo Elf" as soon as I looked at it but it's not a common version

The offset spindle drive is the sort of thing they did

The tailstock may not be the original?

Certainly looks like a nice little unit

I've put the photos the right way up

Edited By Ady1 on 31/05/2022 20:18:03

Thanks, I will try to trace it’s original maker and thanks for turning the pictures around for me ! Any idea of the motor rating that would be suitable for this? I was thinking of 1/2 hp

I would have thought that 1/2hp would be overkill for this little lathe. Probably 1/4 or 1/3 hp at most.

regards

As Oldiron says 1/2 hp would be overkill, I used to have a little Lorch screwcutting lathe of the same centre height, this had it's original factory fitted motor which was 1/4 hp three phase. I believe single phase machines came with a 1/3rd hp motor. That never seemed lacking in power and could run up to quite high spindle speeds.

Interesting little lathe you have there, well worth getting up and running.

Dave

Have you looked on the Lathes.co site? That might both identify it in more detail and possibly give the motor power typical for it.

This neat machine does not seem to resemble the Rollo lathes depicted on that site, and certainly not the Portass I thought it might be, having seen an ad for those in an old copy of "ME".

.

[My exploration was not made all the more enjoyable by blasted Google and E-bay. They plastered Tony Griffith's display with totally irrelevant ads for industrial packing-machines. After I had marked several as not wanted, Google grew desperate and decided I was looking for fancy lavatory bowls instead.]

(interrupt) I find the "Privacy Badger" browser plugin to be very good at quietly decluttering websites of useless adverts and clickbait. It's also easily turnoffable in the rare event that it interferes with something.

and now back to your regular programming...

I’m guessing you may be in the UK? Little things such as likely origin can be important when trying to find a maker.

Thanks for all your help, yes I’m in the U.K. - Leicester. I’m a Woodturner so this is a bit different to me. I’ve spoken to Tony at Lathes.co and sent him a picture, perhaps he can identify the lathe.

ATB, Bruce

Thanks for all your help, yes I’m in the U.K. - Leicester. I’m a Woodturner so this is a bit different to me. I’ve spoken to Tony at Lathes.co and sent him a picture, perhaps he can identify the lathe.

ATB, Bruce

A phone call in advance of sending pictures to Tony at the lathes.co.uk site would be in order , lovely guy , very approachable.

.

I may be mistaken, but … that would appear to be exactly what Bruce did

MichaelG.

Michael G, you were not mistaken and yes he’s a really helpful guy

Bruce

Hi Folks, I’ve spoken to Tony at lathes.co.uk ( great bloke ) and he has identified it as a Damco. Looks like it was made in the early 1900’s The chuck on this one seems a bit big

Very cool. Yes the small chuck on yours looks more appropriate.