A VERY OLD LATHE.

[Alan 1,273]

Found recently by the Showman and friend Steve Dibnah in a shed and now residing in my garage.  A 4" x 24" Selig Sonnenthal Lathe.  From information found on the WWW, these were made from 1880 to 1910, so this young man is at least 108 years old.  A future project which will need a bit of work.  Just had a quick look so far and found all parts move without effort.  No rust as it was well protected by a covering of sawdust.

 

Complete with cast legs and treadle assembly, a pile of 17 change wheels plus more on the lathe and various other parts.

 

A few photo's after returning home. Don't know what the weight of everything was, but the car didn't bounce much.

 

 

And a few of the various parts.

 

 

And the lathe on the garage floor, for now.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[the showman 4,074]

That should give you hours of fun Alan, .

Hears a photo of the shed entrance we found it in.

[Stormin 4,458]

9 minutes ago, the showman said:

That should give you hours of fun Alan, .

Hears a photo of the shed entrance we found it in.

 

And if you think that's bad, you should see the inside.

[Anglo Traction 1,016]

Very nice project Alan . Seems quite sound as far as condition. I like the bolt on Pulley extension to 3 speed changes.

Never heard of that make. Should be up and running by January then !  ........assuming a mild winter. 

 

Hoping also to get a look at one, but fear it is way too big for me/my facilities, despite it also being a Treadle.  

[Alan 1,273]

Quote

Have a look here Richard.  http://www.lathes.co.uk/seligsonnenthal/page2.html

Up and running by January.      No chance. About 4 foot long.  Brought all the treadle parts home but would motorize it.   Still need to finish the Drummond round bed which is well on the way.  Plus a few alterations to Half a Horse after it's first runs at Beddenden. 

[Anglo Traction 1,016]

Thanks for the link Alan. Interesting. Ok January 2020 ! . Forgot about your Drummond . More use for the old set of Pre WW11 Whitworth spanners again then .

Was hoping to get over to Biddenden to see the Li'll 'D', no luck. Maybe next year when the Doc has sorted me out.

[Alan 1,273]

A few more bits, large and small, lurking in and around the various sheds near where the Selig lathe came from.  Added with permission of the owner.

 

A large Drummond lathe about 6 foot long.  No idea of the model,  plus a hefty looking Harrison.  Forgot to check the swing of these two.  Not much room to get good photo's.

 

 

A wood turning lathe, band saw, and hidden under the blue tarps a wood planer.  Can't remember what the green machine in front of it is.

 

 

A surface grinder and what we think is some sort of guillotine or maybe metal bender. This has a double ended V shaped blade which slides sideways.

 

 

Pillar drill and wood mortiser.

 

 

Lots of assorted wood planes and a nice boxed Record 405 multi plane.  I think the owner said there were more of these, or similar, stored away.

 

 

And finally three large stationary engines. A Bamford and two of which I have forgotten the make.

 

 

Some of the larger machinery look as if they were installed first, then the sheds build around them.  Lots more smaller bits and pieces scattered everywhere.  If anyone interested in any of the above, just shout.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Stormin 4,458]

I see in the 2nd and 3rd photo's a missing wood chisel from the set I got.

 

I know a man who would be interested in the stationary engines. Pity they are so far away.

 

PM me the name of the village where they  are and Kim's phone number if that's ok with Kim. You never know. He once went to see a lathe and ended up with 30 stationary engines as well. 

[nigel 1,876]

Ime looking for a good lathe Alan

[Alan 1,273]

1 hour ago, nigel said:

Ime looking for a good lathe Alan

Both the Drummond and Harrison are big and heavy Nigel.  The Harrison looks the better option as more modern, but I don't know what price etc.  I think the Showmans friend Steve might have more info.  I don't have his or the owners phone numbers.

[Stormin 4,458]

It would be hard work getting them out as well.

[Alan 1,273]

1 hour ago, Stormin said:

It would be hard work getting them out as well.

I think KNOW it would be too. Winches, rollers, lots of muscle power.  A lot easier at John's.

[Alan 1,273]

The blue lathe shown above is a 5" double height bed Drummond, circa 1912.  The saddle and it's cross slide run on the lower bed ways, while the tailstock runs on the upper bed.  More information here.  "double-height bed"

[Anglo Traction 1,016]

I just love that Drummond , I only wish I had the time, space and ability to do it justice. Hope it finds a decent home

[Alan 1,273]

47 minutes ago, Anglo Traction said:

I just love that Drummond , I only wish I had the time, space and ability to do it justice. Hope it finds a decent home

I liked it too Richard.  Ditto your comments.  The Selig lathe I rescued is more like 3 foot 6 inches, not 4 foot.  Only guessed, a tape said otherwise.

[timtim 2]

Dear Alan

 

I got the same lathe  and have a question, if I may?

The gear (45mm) in the back of the spindelreduction lose 2 teeth.

Can You tell me what kind of gear this is (modul)?

 

And did You finsh Your projekt?

 

Best from Switzerland  timtim

[Alan 1,273]

Hi Timtim.  

Sorry, I have no idea of the tooth form / pressure angle  etc of these gear wheels.  I have read that various other lathe users,  Myford/ Drummond etc, have had gear copy's made by 3D printing.  Maybe something to look into.    I have not done anything to my lathe yet.  Other projects got in the way.

Regards, Alan.

[timtim 2]

Dear Alan

 

 

Thanks a lot for the fast answer.

And yes I know the problem with all the projects, there always too many.....

 

Best timtim

[timtim 2]

Dear Alain

 

I am not at the end of the restauration but it looks al ready good.

[Alan 1,273]

Very nice timtim.    A good job so far.  Totally different brass plate to mine.    Not had a good look yet but there is a bit of play at the spindle bearings.  I guess the spindle just runs in cast iron.  Either this or the spindle or both are worn.  Mine also missing two handles which should be easy to make.  Still need to finish my Drummond Round Bed which has been put on the back burner.  Too much to do.

[timtim 2]

ear Alain

 

The spindel should run in brass or bronze and You can ajust the play. At my lathe it has 0 play (as mauch as it needed when it get warm. It is marvelous.

I will take a 0.75Kw e-motor with a FU.

For the leadspindel a will make one a e-motor also with FU.

And I changed the handel too.

By the way and the beginnig my lathe looks the same as Yours. It was not used for about 30years.

There is a grinding tool for attachment but this has to wait.

If all is finished You will get some pictures.

 

Best form the Rheinfall (rhine falls)  Marcel

[Stormin 4,458]

On ‎9‎/‎16‎/‎2020 at 8:59 AM, timtim said:

 

  That's a beautiful restoration you've done, Marcel.

[Alan 1,273]

It is Norm.      PM sent Marcel.

[EdToo 2]

I've just signed up after reading this thread. I bought a Selig Sonnethal last weekend and picked it up in kit form. Unlike the one above the bed is longer around 6 feet in length, the poor car was very low at the rear end for the trip back and unloading it by myself nearly killed me. The lathe has had a hard life, the treadle and flywheel assembly is missing and it looks like it was converted to power as there are signs of wear from a belt rubbing from running off from behind. The lead screw is seized and most of the teeth are sheared from the cog that powers it. It doesn't have any change gears with it. The gapping piece is missing from the bed and the gear assembly that runs parallel to the chuck axis appears siezed (is there a purpose to this cog assembly or does it support the chuck axis?). I thought at first the quill was missing from the tail stock but it is just stuck somehow, it rotates a fraction in each direction with the hand wheel but no more, the key underneath wriggles with it so maybe they are bound together somehow. There is nothing mounted in the quill does anyone know if these are Morse tapers or some other fitting?

 

Since the old assembly is missing I plan to run it on an electric motor, but I'm pretty sure it isn't going to look as nice as Timtim's. I love those oilers for the bearings.

[Alan 1,273]

Hi, EdToo.    PM sent.