Sunday evening quiz

....no prizes though, unfortunately.

So, I am helping a friend dispose of her late father's engineering stuff. It has been pretty easy so far, all of the stuff was pretty standard kit. But now we are starting to get to some of the more obscure bits. Over the years the chap collected a good deal of "spares" (like you do) but unfortunately there is no indication of what these bits fit/are used for.

I have asked two people whose knowledge is quite broad regarding these things, but we are all struggling. I would be grateful therefore if anyone could shed any light on the following items.

First up, some Grey Changewheels:

Now, for variety, some Red ones

A toolpost that I suspect may be to make spheres:

A couple of Cross Slides:

Another:

Finally, this is obviously not a tool but if anyone knows which engine this is from, or could be made into, I would be grateful:

Graham

The toolpost assembly is, I believe, from a Shaper.

MichaelG.

Last one is a Stuart Beam Engine

The Grey changewheels look like they could be Southbend/Boxford (3656) lathe the tumbler reverse lever in the same pic is a Boxford item.

The toolpost is from an Adept Shaper.

Paul

I think the fourth photo shows (in the foreground) the top slide from a small lathe the sort that WARCO sell for instance. The design of the feed wheel gives it away - pure Chinese - late Ming I would say!

Rik

the lower item under "A couple of Cross Slides" looks very much like the top slide (Compound slide) on my Chester DB10G lathe which I think is based on the Sieg C6 lathe.

Les.

I wish to thank you all for your valuable contributions, it has been very, very helpful.

graham.

In fact the Shaper head (Photo 3) looks quite a lot like an Adept No2 - same as mine - but I cannot recall if the Adept No 1 head is exactly the same shape or not ?

IanT

According to the photo's on Lathes.co.uk the shaper head is definitely a number 2.

Gordon.

First picture is a bin full of Boxford parts - change gears, tumble reverse (no handle), quadrant and standard imperial transfer gearing for a "B" or "C" model (either under drive or bench type). Will fetch good money on ebay...

Mark

The topslide with curved slots is a Hobbymat MD65 with modified handwheel and modified tool holder fixisng Original toolholder is 2 in circular with 2 holes in middle and 8 round the edge - might be around somewhere.
Grey changewheels again vote for Boxford. What is DP of the red ones and were they originally red. (very few red lathes until recently).
Base casting for beam engine somewhere?

As it happens, I have a base casting for a Stuart Beam engine Graham (no idea why or how) - so if you do sell your Beam Engine parts - you'll know where to send your Buyer for the bottom bit!

Regards,

IanT

Ahhh! Terrific. Sent you a note Ian.

graham.

hi the second picture ,red wheels and blue and red banjo's look very much like 5" vicroy lathe bits ian c

So, the Quiz continues. So far Ian has the highest score with the Viceroy bits (Rule 37 SubPara A - The Judges decision shall be final!)

Here we go, no preamble - right in there:

One question that I do have is what could the gear cutters be used on? They look awfully big some of them just for a home machine (unless you have some industrial strength kit in your shed, which I would love to have )

I don't exactly recognise the item in your first picture

... But I want it.

Looks like it might be [or would make] a tool grinding fixture.

Possibly a "poor man's version" of that lovely Dividing Head you recently acquired.

MichaelG.

Where on earth do you find such treasures?

Geoff - Green I am not, but . .

Yes, the first thing is very nice and looks like the too grinding jig I told someone I've never seen an example of.

The second is a micrometer saddle stop .

The 'big gear cutters' could be side and face cutters.

Do you have a deal with the workshop-elves to bring you their gleanings?

Neil

The gear cutters may have a 1", 1.25", or 1.5" hole in the middle for a horizontal mill arbor. If the teeth are not gear (gap) shaped but just square/round/angled they are normal horizontal mill cutters. Look at a few ebay listing to see the difference.

If advertising please put the key info in the title ie hole dia, total dia, width, DP of gear cutters. It is very annoying to see ten ebay listings for 'gear cutter' each of which has then to be opened to see a naf unreadable picture because the seller is too bone idle to even put the details in the body of the advert.

Picture 2 is a home made micrometer bed stop. Measure up the size of the bar it would clamp to and we may bea ble to work out which lathe.

Ah! Makes a bit of sense now.

There was a biggish Centec Horizontal Mill. All of the cutter are 1" bore and I can assure you the family who are having to dispose of the stuff really do go the extra yard to photograph and describe what they are selling.

As some of you know, I am trying to help a family dispose of a lifetimes collection of kit.

I have learned first hand a very important lesson. Don't leave your family to tidy up after you. And be thankful you have good friends who will do the "right thing" for the family you leave behind.

graham.