Author Topic: Outfitting the Levin.  (Read 10557 times)

Offline steamer

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Re: Outfitting the Levin.
« Reply #45 on: February 17, 2019, 04:24:58 PM »
Heres a typical War Board tag on a machine tool from the period.   My lathe has no such tag...but Levin only painted these lathes during this time

https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikegeiger/27727834236/

Dave
"Mister M'Andrew, don't you think steam spoils romance at sea?"
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Offline b.lindsey

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Re: Outfitting the Levin.
« Reply #46 on: February 17, 2019, 04:44:05 PM »
Interesting. I did a bit of googling too on Levin Lathe History and came up with this: http://levinlathe.com/history/page4.html. An interesting bit of history of the company if you read the other pages also. Seems that one of the main things they did was to make sapphire jewel bearings which had been sourced from Switzerland and the US Govt. was concerned that the supply chain might be cut off by the war. I suppose these were not only for horological purposes but perhaps other war effort instrumentation such as bomb sights, etc. Just guessing on that though. I think it's fun to know some of the background of these old machines and it would indeed be nice if they could talk!!

Bill

Offline steamer

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Re: Outfitting the Levin.
« Reply #47 on: February 17, 2019, 04:48:18 PM »
Yup  I remember reading up on that.   I don't think this lathe spent a lot of time running anything.  but I could be wrong.   It's just not worn at all...

I'd like to think it helped win the war, but I think that is at best wishful thinking...

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

Offline steamer

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Re: Outfitting the Levin.
« Reply #48 on: February 17, 2019, 04:56:54 PM »
Though it does state, that in the early years, nearly ALL of levin's production went to the government for war production.....Lucy needs an American flag on her base somewhere I think....I'll work on that.

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

Offline b.lindsey

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Re: Outfitting the Levin.
« Reply #49 on: February 17, 2019, 05:16:13 PM »
Well I would give her a nice new paint job (says he who isn't painting his shop) but I figure you may want the original paint for posterity's sake. :lolb:

Bill


Offline steamer

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Re: Outfitting the Levin.
« Reply #50 on: February 17, 2019, 05:20:48 PM »
Well I would give her a nice new paint job (says he who isn't painting his shop) but I figure you may want the original paint for posterity's sake. :lolb:

Bill

Actually, ive been torn on that point.   Do I leave her as I found her?  or Repaint....The paint is in pretty good shape, It's in one piece and doesn't seem to be chipping...and it's original.

On the other hand.....It's not perfect either....

I think I'll leave it for now....and we'll get her running and if I'm satisfied with everything I can revisit the paint question....
Dave
"Mister M'Andrew, don't you think steam spoils romance at sea?"
Damned ijjit!

Offline steamer

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Re: Outfitting the Levin.
« Reply #51 on: February 17, 2019, 07:54:37 PM »
T bolt just about done.  Need to shorten it a touch and make a nice heavy M5 washer
"Mister M'Andrew, don't you think steam spoils romance at sea?"
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Offline b.lindsey

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Re: Outfitting the Levin.
« Reply #52 on: February 17, 2019, 08:14:29 PM »
That looks great and sturdy too. It'll be cutting metal soon!!

Bill

Offline b.lindsey

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Re: Outfitting the Levin.
« Reply #53 on: February 17, 2019, 08:18:38 PM »
Just as a matter of interest, there are no t-slots on little C, just a post into the top of the compound.

Bill

Offline steamer

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Re: Outfitting the Levin.
« Reply #54 on: February 17, 2019, 08:22:35 PM »
Yup   i want to spread the load out and not put that T slot in bending.
"Mister M'Andrew, don't you think steam spoils romance at sea?"
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Offline steamer

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Re: Outfitting the Levin.
« Reply #55 on: February 23, 2019, 11:21:42 PM »
Spent some time making some new ball handles for the Levin.   That little ball turning rig I bought worked just fine
"Mister M'Andrew, don't you think steam spoils romance at sea?"
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Offline 10KPete

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Re: Outfitting the Levin.
« Reply #56 on: February 23, 2019, 11:29:59 PM »
Dave, please show the ball turning rig. Those handles are looking very good. I need to do similar...

Pete
Craftsman, Tinkerer, Curious Person.
Retired, finally!
SB 10K lathe, Benchmaster mill. And stuff.

Offline steamer

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Re: Outfitting the Levin.
« Reply #57 on: February 23, 2019, 11:42:22 PM »
Just posted it and a follow up post on using it.

It gets the job done on those small tool ball jobs...  If you're trying to make a ball bearing...this isn't for you...  You don't have the control over radius adjustment

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

Offline steamer

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Re: Outfitting the Levin.
« Reply #58 on: February 23, 2019, 11:44:56 PM »
Next step, and it's up on the mill

I need to put the holes in for the handle, and the leadscrew shaft.


I just measured the leadscrews.    They're 5.5 mm.....so It looks like I'm making a reamer....

Very wierd, it's an imperial screw....but metric shank where the ball handle fits....

One reamer coming up....

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

Offline crueby

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Re: Outfitting the Levin.
« Reply #59 on: February 24, 2019, 12:30:53 AM »
Next step, and it's up on the mill

I need to put the holes in for the handle, and the leadscrew shaft.


I just measured the leadscrews.    They're 5.5 mm.....so It looks like I'm making a reamer....

Very wierd, it's an imperial screw....but metric shank where the ball handle fits....

One reamer coming up....

Dave
Imperial screw, metric shank - sounds like they had two design teams in different countries!

Reminds me of the Oldsmobile my parents bought (new, right at start of new model year). When it came time for new shocks in the back, they would not fit. The mechanic finally figured out it had a Ford rear axle! Came from the factory that way - they must have been short of axles at first and found a Ford one that would fit at the supplier... All worked fine, just the shock absorber mounts were slightly different.

 

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