What is this lathe?

Hi all.Can anyone out there identify this lathe? Here are a few dimensions of it,12" between centres,21" over all,2" centre height,1 1/2" wide dovetail bed,the tailstock has a taper bore much smaller than MT1. It has a 4-1 backgear.I don't think that it is that old because it has plastic handwheels.It needs a bit of TLC. Regards Pailo.

Edited By David Clark 1 on 15/04/2012 16:17:47

My guess is a Flexispeed.

Yes, it's a Flexispeed. I bought one as a DIY kit back in the early 70s. Mine has metal handwheels though.

John

Thanks for the info chaps,sorry that my post was all over the place but havn't got the hang of posting photos! Anyway have had a look at lathes uk website and hav gleaned some more info.Any thoughts on this lathe?

Regards Pailo.

Hi There

Could be a Simat 101. A later version of the Flexispeed.

regards D avid

Tony brought most of the small flexspeed simat etc stuff together onto the Cowells page

http://www.lathes.co.uk/cowells/index.html

maybe its a Norfolk Lathe, they are in the Cowells pages

Hello,after looking at Tony's website I think that it maybe The Norfolk lathe.

Regards Pailo.

As David says,  it's a Simat 101, I have exactly the same lathe which I bought at a local auction a while ago, it also happens to have the original instruction book and assembly sheets with it, but sod's law dictates I can't find them!

When they turn up, I'll make a copy of them if interested!

A  weak point on these is the single point mounting for the toolpost on the cross slide, mine's been cracked across the bolt hole at some point, and botched up by being drilled and tapped across the cracks both sides of the hole, small bolts had then been run through them to hold it all together!
I've taken it all apart and cleaned it up, so it's on the point of being welded up, but It's actually a cracking little piece of kit apart from this weak spot!

John.

Edited By RJW on 15/04/2012 15:54:00

Hi John, a copy of the instruction book and assembly sheets would be welcome if you come across them. I was given this machine yesterday by the wifes friends husband,thought it would make an interesting restoration project,what size motor are you using for yours I thought a 1/4 horse would be about right.

Regards Pailo.

Hi Pailo, the instruction book isn't a big deal, just a few A5 pages stapled together, but quite informative, I've a feeling the assembly sheets are a couple of illustrated parts lists, I had them a few weeks ago, so they shouldn't be to too far away.

I'm using the same 240V 1/6th HP motor, plus a variac control that I use for my Boley and Star lathes, and when 'on holiday', an old electric sewing machine motor and foot control is used,
The pulleys on both motors are 'V's, so they happily run the V belt on the Simat and round belting on the watchmakers lathes.
I don't need a lot of grunt for the work I do, as most of it is using a hand held graver, and even when using the cross slide, the cuts are very small.
The lathes only run for short periods too, so no overheating problems as such (except under me collar occasionally), although I did get the sewing machine motor making a bit of pong once, which got domestic management a bit revved up

I'll post up a note when the notes turn up.

John

Yep it's a Simat 101, I have just bought one

Yep is is a Simat 101. I just aquired one. Does any one have a clue how to use the back gear? This is my first lathe, I just couldn't bring myself to buy a far east import and it looks like a 'real' lathe just smaller.