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Paul39
18th February 2013, 01:53 PM
Stephensonlathe01_zpsc88a1133.jpg Photo by Asquith1 | Photobucket (http://s3.beta.photobucket.com/user/Asquith1/media/Jan%202013/Stephensonlathe01_zpsc88a1133.jpg.html)

Lathe used by George Stephenson at Killingworth Colliery from 1812 - 1818.

No doubt it was old when he got his hands on it, nearly two centuries ago!

Probably had a new cone pulley at some point.

Note the squared centre in the tailstock. Also seen in much more modern US lathes (1840s http://www.practicalmachinist.com/wink.gif)

The lathe is in a reconstructed railway workshop in the wonderful Beamish Open Air Museum, County Durham, England.

Beamish, The Living Museum of the North (http://www.beamish.org.uk/)

Photos and information by Asquith, Somerset, UK, from this thread on Practical Machinist:

George Stephenson's Lathe (http://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/antique-machinery-history/george-stephensons-lathe-260270/)
powderpost
18th February 2013, 09:09 PM
Interesting that we turners nowdays want cast iron beds, perfectly machined, centres that line up to within "thous", electronic variable speed and belt protection, and numerous other "essentials". Those old blokes would make a gross of egg cups in a day and for a shilling or less, each.
Jim
RETIRED
18th February 2013, 10:48 PM
It is interesting to note that in the early 1900's cast iron was frowned upon and resisted for any "works" lathe as the turners liked the spring in a wooden bed to keep the dead centre in the timber.
ian thorn
19th February 2013, 08:20 PM
what was the power unitt looks to me it may have turned by handle power

Ian
Paul39
20th February 2013, 02:47 AM
what was the power unitt looks to me it may have turned by handle power

Ian

Powered by apprentice. Still used in some parts of the world.

http://images.travelpod.com/tw_slides/ta00/9d4/0ba/hand-powered-lathe-ambositra.jpg

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qkz6-ociad0/TG4CQNcq5JI/AAAAAAAABnM/LxNf2pPrUiA/s1600/DSCN3068.JPG

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-afs3oRMOyuQ/TmgxtwE-ExI/AAAAAAAAAfA/8wQ0q0C-IqQ/s1600/DSC_0045.jpg
Colin62
20th February 2013, 10:42 PM
Powered by apprentice. Still used in some parts of the world.

And if you're an amateur with no apprentice, you have to be *very* nice to the missus.