Lathe

This is my antique lathe. I think it's roughly a 100 years old.

It also serves as a fitness device (look under the table).

Summary

It used to be my granddad's a long time ago. I think he acquired it used in the 1950s. When his house was finally sold a few years ago it needed a new home which I was happy to provide. I have fond memories of helping with "powering" the machine as a kid. If camera phones were a thing back then I'm sure it would be well documented.

Condition

Although it has been standing around unused for more than two decades it's in pretty good working condition after only a bit of de-clogging and greasing/oiling. There is hardly any rust. Over the years I will do a lot more cleaning and maybe some restoration work as I find time. I haven't dared to look at the bearings yet. I'm intending to leave it human powered - it's a big part of its appeal and I'm moving little enough as it is. Also I'm not using the lathe that much, so the effort to motorize it would hardly be justifiable. If I really needed a powered lathe I would just get one.

Identification

badge

The badge says it's a "Delisle&Ziegele".

screwcutting-table

There is a very limited amount of information on the internet about this brand. As it appears Delisle&Ziegele were mainly distributors for other brands. A bit of browsing on the wonderful http://lathes.co.uk website convinced me that I'm the proud owner of a Oskar Ehrlich product. I couldn't find any logo on the lathe itself, but the screwcutting-table gives it away.

This page, apparently from the 1914 Schuchardt&Schütte catalogue pretty much shows my lathe. Mine has a nice housing for the gears, so it's possibly newer (maybe 20's?). It has also got an oil tray. (Source:https://forum.zerspanungsbude.net/viewtopic.php?t=47897)

Description

Headstock

• 3-speed cone pulley driven by a leather belt.
• Backgear (no tooth decay I think)
• Lever for lead screw (forward|off|backward)
• Gearbox in housing (I have this drawer with a full set of gears)

Carriage

• All the usual functions
• Automatic cross feed
• Second tool post at the back (not installed in picture)

Treadle

• Slightly unusual arrangement with the excentric chain wheel
• Works surprisingly smoothly and makes a satisfying sound (courtesy of the chain)

Accessories

There is a quite comprehensive set of accessories - some of them can also be seen on the catalogue page above.

• 4-jaw chuck
• small chuck with cone mount
• steady rest
• unidentified object (top-right)
• lathe dog driving plate with carriers (center in other drawer)
• there is also another drawer with the cutting tools, chucks for the tailstock and a few keys

Then there is another box with pieces that I couldn't figure out until I stumbled across a page in the old catalog that shows the "Konischdrehlineal Ausführung a" (cone turning guide).

I guess it fills a niche - just not sure it's a niche I will ever need. The assembly seems incomplete (the rod connecting to the left side is missing but it seems to be just a round piece of steel so could be easily replaced) and broken (the collet that holds the missing rod on the main assembly side broke off). The whole purpose of the left part seems to be to hold the carriage (where the main assembly is mounted on) in place. The same could probably also be achieved in other ways (clamp a block of wood to the bed).

Work/Uses

So far I have mainly used the lathe for wood turning. It's a bit tedious using the slides all the time, especially for curved sections. But then it would probably be really difficult to hold hand tools steady while treading.

The brass chimney of this nice old Märklin steam engine was missing. Turned out "alright" for my first try doing metal.

Then the cat's scratching post elements needed re-winding...