Looking for help valuing two lathes

Hello all,

I have been recommended this site from another social media platform I use. I'm looking for a little help in valuing two lathes in my possession.

My wife and I bought her grandparents house off the family as they both passed a few years prior. Her Grandad was a machinist with the old school hoarder mindset. As such, I have effectively inherited a workshop FULL of bits and bobs. There seems to be everything from spare chucks to drill bits, taps, dies, reamers and old metal stock/blanks.

Unfortunately I don't have the time/inclination to get into machining and would much prefer to have the space for my won carpentry/DIY.

I am looking to sell the two lathes in the garage and will include as much info as I know about them below. If anyone could offer any advice on a range of price I could expect from them that would be incredible.

Lathe 1
COLCHESTER 5X20 CHIPMASTER
This is a big lathe that grandad took as collateral when the firm he was working for went bust. It runs on 3-phase though it is not connected so can't say for sure it powers on.
The beds(?) seem to be true and wheels turn smoothly on them.

Lathe 2
DRUMMOND BROTHERS PETENTEES - GUILDFORD
I think/have been told this is a jewellers lathe? It is much small than the COLCHESTER and seems to run on an old belt motor. All the original belts/gearing and motor are all sat underneath the lathe.

I have attached pics to this post, just follow the link it's difficult to get good photos.
IMPORTANT
Both the lathes have some damage as the roof was leaking long before anyone noticed. Having inspected/cleaned up the lathes I am confident it is only surface rust.

PHOTOS IN THIS LINK
https://imgur.com/a/nDVK3fp

Can't help with a value or a visit sorry but if you are looking to sell then you should definitely go through the workshop and identify any tooling or accessories that belong to each lathe - it will enhance their resale value.

The Drummond looks like it was originally treadle operated and later motorised. I wouldn't call it a jewellers lathe though - it's a 3 1/2 inch lathe aimed at those with limited space... like model engineers.

The lathes.co.uk site will have plenty of photos to help.

Chris, I've sent you a message. It should be in your Inbox.

What state are the lathes in?

Have a look at the prices and availability on eBay and also on the dealers ads in ME or MEW and also those on lathes.co.uk.

Much will be depend upon condition.

Hi Chris,

The Chipmaster is a desirable small smachine although your example needs some attention as it's started to fall into disrepair. It seems to be powered from a box on the wall which presumably is a 3 phase converter. It also seems to have some kind of attachment behind the bed either a copying or a taper turning affair I cannot tell without a better pic.

The drummond in comparison has little value. The toolpost on it looks like a Dickson with several holders and that is a desirable part. If you have all the siz jaws for the chuck it might hold some value but the condition is difficult to judge from the pics.

Good luck with the sale, I doubt you'll have difficulty selling the Chipmaster at least.

While the Colchester is in theory the more expensive machine there is a definite following for Drummond machines

The Drummond is quite old. Hard to tell from the limited pics but looks like it might be the bed is from 1902-12 pre-B Type with the later style brace added to the headstock and 1912-20 B Type cross slide added on. Fairly rare to have the original treadle flywheel etc still with it. There is quite a bit of interest in these vintage lathes. Best shot might be the Drummondlathe group on groups.io here LINK You will have to take out a free membership to post but there is a wealth of knowledge and interest in these older machines there. They were the model engineer's favourite in their day and are still a good machine today. I have a 1937 model that is a very capable and accurate machine still. They don't sell for as much as a Myford ML7 but are very close in capability, and sometimes more accurate.

Could I be permitted to go slightly off the topic, but still relate to the theme of the question because it raises a dilemma that many relatives and spouses of people such as ourselves may face in the future? I have a large collection of machines and tooling, much under-used these days but the result of a lifetime of careful purchases and collection. I think I have a few items that some people would almost 'kill' to get their hands on. As I am now living on borrowed time, having used up my allotted three-score years and ten, but not yet quite ready to shuffle off this mortal coil, my wife has been 'nagging' me to make an inventory of my collection, list which items should be kept together and estimate the values that she, or a member of the family should she go first, may expect to realise. She accepts that I cannot bear the thought of disposing of my treasured collection whilst I am still able to function, although I know common-sense dictates that I should at least start thinking about it. I haven't yet made the inventory or provided written guidance for how or what should happen but I really should start seriously thinking about it and leaving provision for probable professional removal costs of the heavier machines because of the location of our property on quite a steep incline. I am sure I cannot be alone in this self-inflicted predicament and really should provide as much help as possible to those I will be leaving behind when the time comes.

Chris your location may help if there is anyone close enough to visit and assist with information etc !

The Drummond may have been a treadle powered lathe if the large flywheel on the RHS is or has been part of it ? As Hopper says there are collector / users of these vintage machines so some research on t'internet may yield results.

The Colchester, if you search online, ebay and machine sellers the prices vary wildly from under £1000 to £4000 + BUT it depends on condition and what accessories are available with the machine. As you will appreciate your machine will need considerable remedial work and this will affect the selling price. However Colchester are a popular machine for home users .

Good luck with your sale

The Drummond is a 3 1/2 inch model usually known as the Pre B Type . Nice lathe but not as capable as the later B or M Types , The M is the one that can give an ML7 a run for its money .The square section fitting behind the headstock is possibly part of the countershaft not a brace. Hard to tell ,well lit good photos are key to getting a good price.The crosslide was an optional extra so may or may not be a Drummond part but it's not important , it looks good. The bare lathe is £150 ish , if it is a Dickson tool post with holders +£100 easily. The overall value is impossible to say because a few bits and pieces of tooling can make a big difference. The lathe looks to be ready for restoration and they sell well in this condition. As well as the group mentioned above there is a very active Facebook group with a decent bunch of members. Drummond/Myford Lathe Owners and enthusiasts.

As an enthusiast's machine yes but compared to a generl purpose lathe I'm afraid that all Drummonds are virtual relics. I've had one, the guy who now owns it loves it but I was completely ambivalent on it's merits.

The Drummond is categorically not a clockmakers lathe. You might get £250 for it on the well known auction site. The Chipmaster would make a nice project but it does rather depend on its mechanical condition. It was an expensive high quality machine and parts are can be hard to find, expensive or unobtainable. It is quite rusted and although this can be addressed - please don’t get the wire wool out on it, you might get £1000 -1500, I would put a reserve of £1000 and see how it goes if it doesn’t sell you know what to do.

On the Chipmaster, do not be tempted to play with the speed control on the variator with the motor not running. Doing so can cause damage and wipe a lot of value off it

Thank you everyone for your replies! The information is really useful to me. I am based in Ipswich UK.

I've just installed lights in there today so I aim to get some better pictures up soon.

I am sure that each lathe has every attachment you can think of with it. Like Chris Crew said it would have been lovely if it was catalogued! That's something I will have to look into. The trouble is just finding the time to get out there.

I would mostly like to make sure I get a fair price for them and dont get ripped off by someone who knows more than I do. I appreciate the rough figures people have thrown out.

Thanks all

Chris Lawrence,

I am nearly at my 3 score years and ten, and I have been thinking along the same lines as you about my own "hobby". I have given up my love affair with vintage cars (I still need to advertise them) and have started a new fancy. Model engineering! So, from one passion to another won't help my relatives when they have to sort out my belongings one day (hopefully a long way off yet). Are you going to advertise your machinery here?

Lee

Age & the inevitable

A topic that has come upmany times before - there's an excellent articel reprint on the site 'Disposing of a workshop' full of useful tips.

I took this on board recently and began an inventory of kit, estimated values, possible contact names / companies etc that may be interested after I'm gawn. Takes time, but its a thoughtful thing to do for those left behind. There's a printed copy of it with all my 'important' papers - so easy to find.

I've also began to clean out some of the REAL junk (truly just stuff that I should never have kept in the first place).

Mike

you'll need it tomorrow!

Just take lots of good pictures and stick it all on eBay. The dealers that offer to buy your complete workshop and brush it afterwards will rob you blind. I have sold a few lathes and two milling machines on eBay for good prices as I updated my machines. There are lots of buyers out there, even in these dark days.

And feel free to post pics on here if you need help identifying what items/accessories are called. One man's "old school hoardings" are another man's well equipped workshop.

Edited By Hopper on 20/06/2022 03:51:43