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What is this old lathe part?

842 Views 5 Replies 4 Participants Last post by MrUnix, May 6, 2022

Hippoak

Discussion Starter · May 6, 2022 (Edited by Moderator)

Hi,

I'm a longtime woodworker and I just bought my first lathe. I know next to nothing about turning. I bought a really old lathe with no makers name. It belonged from the sellers great grandfather who died in 1942. It came with a bunch of old chisels and about a dozen hand turned mini barrel looking things that are threaded to fit the lathe.

My question - can anyone tell me what these things are used for? I'll attach some pictures if I can figure out how to do that. Thanks.

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EdWeber

· #2 · May 6, 2022

They look to be drive centers, for what purpose, I can't say.
Making a variety of drives isn't uncommon in the days before adjustable self centering chucks

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LesB

· #3 · May 6, 2022

Wow, that belongs in a museum. I would have to guess they were some sort of adapters for drive centers. Not unlike the Morse taper system we use today.

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MrUnix

· #4 · May 6, 2022 (Edited by Moderator)

They were most likely purpose built, and the purpose has been long lost since the original maker has passed. Could be for any number of things I can think of, and I'm sure a bunch more that I can't. I know I am constantly making custom attachments for one off projects and other obscure purposes, and they would probably leave others scratching their head wondering what those were for as well

Since you just purchased the lathe, you really should try to figure out what you got. Any casting marks or other features that may be helpful? You can try browsing the vintage lathe photos over at vintagemachinery.org to try and narrow it down. A manual would contain lots of into you will need, such as taper sizes (if any), spindle thread, maintenance procedures, etc…

Cheers,
Brad

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Hippoak

Discussion Starter · #5 · May 6, 2022

Thanks. I haven't found casting marks yet, but I'll keep looking. I think you're probably right about the drive centers, but there sure are a bunch of them. It's really in good shape for the age - even the old motor works. That at least has a manufacturer's name.

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MrUnix

· #6 · May 6, 2022

It is hard to kill a good induction motor! Be sure to keep it oiled and it will last forever. Same with your lathe, as I notice you have oil caps. Bronze bearings are superior to ball bearings and will last much longer if taken care of.

The number of drive centers is most likely because they are all for different diameter stuff. The outside diameter is probably not important, but notice that the inner bore varies in sizes and it doesn't look like any of them are the same. Most likely doing a lot of spindle work and had a bunch of sizes that were being used, so one for each diameter. Like Ed pointed out, this probably before scroll chucks came into being.

This to me is one of the cool aspects of lathes… they have been around for centuries, and for the vast majority of that time until just recently in history, everything was shop built for the needs at hand. And you can do the same thing today if inclined. My first lathe had an odd-ball size spindle, so I got a thread tap for it and made my own attachments. Lots of 'em. For free, other than the cost of the tap. Used it for years without throwing another penny at it.

Cheers,
Brad

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What is this old lathe part?

Hippoak

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EdWeber

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