AJS Lathe ...

Attending the BHI's recent "Turret Clock Forum" at Upton Hall, I happened across this rather interesting lathe, lurking under a table.

[please see photo album]

Much of it is [rather nicely] hand made; but there are several components that have the look of Myford about them.

Does anyone know about this machine ?

MichaelG.

What is it? - B***y rare! The only google hits for "AJS lathe" are your message and pictures.

Could it be a 'badge engineered version of something else for a little-known distributor, or even a one-off?

Neil

Neil,

Thanks for responding ... I thought this one was going to be a Maiden.

Whatever the lathe is; it's rather nicely done.

The "Turret Clock Forum" was quite busy, so I didn't find anyone to ask ... but I will see what I can find out, next visit.

MichaelG.

Heck of a unit

it shouts "Schaublin" at me but that headstock is massive and look at the size of the bed, it's a solid steel box section

The carriage is so massive that there's only about an inch of travel in either direction, which is nuts

Intriguing. Clearly heavily restored and it looks like there has been quite a lot of fabrication. You surely wouldn't design a tailstock casting to look like that, it gives the impression of having a had a tube welded to the base. The cross slide looks very Myfordesque. Perhaps it's a bitser by Andrew John Smith? Nice job though.

Rod

It looks like part of the carriage can pass in front of the tailstock to give more travel, but still very limited.

My vote is for an individual's take on the 'ideal' lathe based on their own idea's rather than theory.

Joey

I was going to comment on the possibility that it was linked to AJS motorcycles. But taht seemed a bit unlikely as they never sold machine tools - but did they build a few?

It turns out that Harry Stevens, one of the founders of AJS built a grandfather clock.

This clock was feautured in Model Engineer under the pen-name "A.J.S."

So.. a model engineer and horologist associated with AJS.

Could this lathe be made by not AJS the Motor Cycle & Radio company, but by one of the companies owners? Perhaps Harry himself?

**LINK**

**LINK**

Neil

Neil,

Excellent thoughts, thanks ... I didn't know that he had built a grandfather clock; so that's a promising lead.

MichaelG.

For info.

I have received the following from BHI at Upton Hall:

"The only thing I can tell you is that the lathe was made from scratch by one of our members."

MichaelG.

Lots of "A.J.S." hits under author in Dias' index program. None for a grandfather clock. On reflection it looks rather modern and someone with initials A.J.S. wrote about some clocks they made in a 2006 M.E. - could this be your man?

Neil

Sounds promising ... thanks Neil.

MichaelG.

Eureka!

Model Engineer No. 4160 Vol. 187 page 549. "Machines and Tooling at Castle Donnington" (MMEX 2001).

It was made by Alfred J.Stevens.

"The 3 1/2" cebtre height, screw cutting lathe entered by Mr Alfred Stevens appeared to be well built and finished. Much care had obviously been taken on finishing the various matine surfaces..."

It appears to have been exhibited with the patterns.

The lathe in the accompanying photos is clearly the one above.

Neil

Edited By Stub Mandrel on 10/08/2013 14:34:44

Thank you Neil,

... A brilliant find.

MichaelG.