Author Topic: Just got myself a very small lathe - any idea what it is?  (Read 4561 times)

Offline Gas_mantle

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Just got myself a very small lathe - any idea what it is?
« on: December 06, 2018, 05:37:13 PM »
Hi all,

A neighbour was clearing out his garage and gave me this little fella :-)  I'm assuming its a watchmakers lathe and wonder if anyone here might know anything about it - age, maker etc?

I'm not sure how well it will cut (if at all) but it could make a nice little ornament for my vertical engine to drive  :)











Many thanks.

Offline Ye-Ole Steam Dude

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Re: Just got myself a very small lathe - any idea what it is?
« Reply #1 on: December 06, 2018, 05:44:56 PM »
Oh wow, what a beautiful piece of equipment. I am surprised that the manufacture did not cast his name on it, or at least have a brass plate with model and date. Looks like it will clean up really good.

Have a great day,
Thomas
Thomas

Offline Jo

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Re: Just got myself a very small lathe - any idea what it is?
« Reply #2 on: December 06, 2018, 05:53:10 PM »
Mk1 Flexispeed built somewhere just after WWII (pre 1948 when they had upgraded to three speed  ;) ).

Jo
Enjoyment is more important than achievement.

Offline Gas_mantle

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Re: Just got myself a very small lathe - any idea what it is?
« Reply #3 on: December 06, 2018, 06:01:46 PM »
Thanks :-)

Since I made my original posting I notice the 4 jaw chuck is stamped 'Adept' but the main body is unmarked.

Looks like you have hit the nail on the head Jo  :)  It appears to be exactly the same as the MK1 here :-

http://www.lathes.co.uk/flexy/

Next task is to rig it up and see if it will turn anything  :headscratch:

Offline Jo

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Re: Just got myself a very small lathe - any idea what it is?
« Reply #4 on: December 06, 2018, 06:07:12 PM »
It should do but your problem will be finding chucks and things for it. It is probably not worth the effort  :-\

It would be a nice demo piece to drive with a steam engine and hold something in the existing four jaw.

Jo
Enjoyment is more important than achievement.

Offline Gas_mantle

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Re: Just got myself a very small lathe - any idea what it is?
« Reply #5 on: December 06, 2018, 06:15:55 PM »
I kinda just want to rig it up to cut as a demo model powered by a steam engine, if it will turn small bits of brass or aluminium I'll be happy.

The chuck looks to be ok but I haven't got a chuck key, I thought if I grind a small square of tool steel and make a handle I ought to be able to try it out. Considering its age it seem to operate smoothly without any obvious play in the bearing and slides.

It ought to make a simple project to clean it up and give it a lick of paint.

Offline Jo

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Re: Just got myself a very small lathe - any idea what it is?
« Reply #6 on: December 06, 2018, 06:20:41 PM »
It will easily turn steel with a HSS tool. It is one of the precursors to the Cowells. I am not sure about the nose it is likely to be 1/2" whit or BSF  :noidea: Your problem will be matching the taper in the headstock/tailstock.

Jo
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Offline Roger B

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Re: Just got myself a very small lathe - any idea what it is?
« Reply #7 on: December 06, 2018, 06:50:18 PM »
What a wonderful little lathe  :) It looks good as a demonstration load for your steam engine  :ThumbsUp:  :ThumbsUp:
Best regards

Roger

Offline Gas_mantle

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Re: Just got myself a very small lathe - any idea what it is?
« Reply #8 on: December 06, 2018, 09:35:48 PM »
Thanks Roger  :)

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkReuC-1rlc" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkReuC-1rlc</a>

Offline gary.a.ayres

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Re: Just got myself a very small lathe - any idea what it is?
« Reply #9 on: December 06, 2018, 10:08:39 PM »
Nice find!

I'd get it running if I were you (says he who owns several old machines that have been awaiting restoration for several years...)...

Not sure it's a watchmaker's lathe though... don't they usually have a tool rest for manual gravers instead of a cross-slide...?

Offline Florian Eberhard

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Re: Just got myself a very small lathe - any idea what it is?
« Reply #10 on: December 06, 2018, 10:19:49 PM »
Hi Peter

A Pretty nice lathe you've got there!

To clean the rust away, the best thing to do is to just dunk it in citric acid.
Stefan gotteswinter shows what it can do to an almost completely rusty vice (at 26:00):
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ud1FTMbmfmY" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ud1FTMbmfmY</a>

Florian


Offline Gas_mantle

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Re: Just got myself a very small lathe - any idea what it is?
« Reply #11 on: December 06, 2018, 10:27:06 PM »
Cheers Florian, I have some citric acid that I use when soldering so I'll give it a try.

Hi Gary, I did refer to it as possibly a watchmakers lathe but now I've read a bit more I'd agree it's more likely a small hobby engineers lathe. If I can use it steam powered to turn a few simple brass fitting then I'll be happy.  :)

Offline b.lindsey

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Re: Just got myself a very small lathe - any idea what it is?
« Reply #12 on: December 06, 2018, 11:16:54 PM »
What a great little machine!! Definitely worth cleaning up even if just for demo purposes.

Bill

Offline gary.a.ayres

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Re: Just got myself a very small lathe - any idea what it is?
« Reply #13 on: December 07, 2018, 12:16:18 AM »
Hi Gary, I did refer to it as possibly a watchmakers lathe but now I've read a bit more I'd agree it's more likely a small hobby engineers lathe. If I can use it steam powered to turn a few simple brass fitting then I'll be happy.  :)

Yes, sorry Peter - you did say it was a model engineer's lathe in the video, which I only watched after I made my previous comment.

I hope you can get your engine to run it on steam power - that's a video I'd love to see! I have a nice old Drummond 'Pre-B' lathe awaiting some work. You have just set me imagining my PMR #6 driving it (when I get round to building the PMR 'one day', that is...). Oh - and I'd need a bigger boiler too...  :???: Maybe I'll just look out for your steam-powered lathe video instead  :)

Online steamer

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Re: Just got myself a very small lathe - any idea what it is?
« Reply #14 on: December 07, 2018, 01:25:21 AM »
Consider Simple Green and Very hot water with a closed lid

It takes it all off...Rust paint, you name it

http://www.modelenginemaker.com/index.php/topic,369.0.html

Dave

"Mister M'Andrew, don't you think steam spoils romance at sea?"
Damned ijjit!

 

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