Specifications for an A.E Herbert wood Lathe

[Luxos]

Hello,
I am going to attempt to get an old lathe going.
It is missing a drive shaft, pulleys, motor, and drive centre.
(Pictures attached).
I have done some research and think that:

It has plain bearings
has a 5/8" shaft
has a 3/4" housing


I can source the bearings and pulleys but will probably need the shaft custom made.
I was wondering if anyone could provide me with some details as to what I should specify in terms of:

the total length
threads for either end
seals
anything else I should know.


I live in Brisbane so if anyone could suggest a business who could do this work I would be most indebted.
Any comments would be gratefully accepted.
Here are some pictures:
314646314647314648

Regards,
Michael

[Old Croc]

Hi Michael,
Unless you are wanting to restore this lathe for a particular reason, i think it would cost you more than a new lathe from SE Qld Wood Working Supplies or Gary Pye and even after the restoration it would be still rather primitive.
But thats just my view.
Rgds,
Crocy.

[Treecycle]

Is this (http://www.lathes.co.uk/herberthomewoodworker/) one of the sites you looked at? Looks like an early version of a Shopsmith on that site. Is that what yours originally was?
If it is, there is a lot of info required to get the correct specs for the shaft.
Here is a couple of links that may be of use if you haven't already seen them.
http://www.woodworkforums.com/showthread.php?t=76052
http://www.woodworkforums.com/showthread.php?t=168085
Some better pictures of it as a lathe.
Good luck with your search, and I hope we get to see the finished item.

[DaveTTC]

I have two of these lathes I think, I can take some pics for you tomorrow if you like and probably get some dimensions.
If you ask nicely someone on the metal work forum might be willing to turn a spindle for you


Dave the turning cowboy

turning wood into art

[Mobyturns]

Try http://vintagemachinery.org/ for similar machinery of that era or http://www.lathes.co.uk/herberthomewoodworker/

[Paul39]

Luxos,

I echo what Old Croc wrote above. If the Herbert has sentimental value to you, clean it up and mount it on a nice piece of timber and put it on a shelf.

If you had all the accessories to make it work it would still be a very light duty lathe, subject to vibration and the tool rest and tail stock slipping out of position while being used.

The cheapest Chinese cast iron bed mini lathe is many times better than what you would have if you fixed yours.

If you know a turner, ask to look at the lathe he or she uses. You might go to a shop that sells lathes and look and feel how they work.

[DaveTTC]

Luxos,

I'm with you if you want to fix and restore. My personal feeling is if you are going to fix something it might as well be a user.

Like others have said, there are other 'cheap' lathes that will outperform this one. I have 12 lathes and only 3 have cast beds. Most of mine are over 50 years old and one has a timber bed. In time I want all of mine to be set up and 'users' though I would eventually like to get a big lathe as my main user.



Dave the turning cowboy

turning wood into art

[Luxos]

Hi Michael,
Unless you are wanting to restore this lathe for a particular reason, i think it would cost you more than a new lathe from SE Qld Wood Working Supplies or Gary Pye and even after the restoration it would be still rather primitive.
But thats just my view.
Rgds,
Crocy.
Thanks Crocy,
Logic does not play a large part in this.
Yes I realise I could get something better for less money, but I just love old stuff.

thanks for the input just the same.

[Luxos]

I have two of these lathes I think, I can take some pics for you tomorrow if you like and probably get some dimensions.
If you ask nicely someone on the metal work forum might be willing to turn a spindle for you


Dave the turning cowboy

turning wood into art
That would be wonderful Dave.
Some close ups of either end of the spindle would be good.
Much appreciated.

[Luxos]

Luxos,

I'm with you if you want to fix and restore. My personal feeling is if you are going to fix something it might as well be a user.

Like others have said, there are other 'cheap' lathes that will outperform this one. I have 12 lathes and only 3 have cast beds. Most of mine are over 50 years old and one has a timber bed. In time I want all of mine to be set up and 'users' though I would eventually like to get a big lathe as my main user.



Dave the turning cowboy

turning wood into art
Thanks Dave.
I just want to see if I can get it going.
i just love old stuff...

[DaveTTC]

I love the old stuff too, I am hoping to have a working museum at some point.

I got totally carried away with things today and did not get any fresh pics ... will try and get some for you tomorrow.

Hope to be having a woodworking get together next Australia Day weekend ... only a short drive to Jerilerie if you are interested.
Bring a project and some tools or just come down to be social.


Dave the turning cowboy

turning wood into art

[Paul39]

Thanks Dave.
I just want to see if I can get it going.
i just love old stuff...


Ah, yes. I understand. Below is a $50 purchase of a lathe made for turning down motor and generator armature commutators, for which I have no use.

It does have a couple hundred dollars worth of American made Jacobs chucks and a spare tool carriage that can be used on a wood lathe to do limited metal turning.

Some months later I found the motor for undercutting the insulation between the copper segments.

Now I have a complete set up. For which I have no use.

The lathe does have #2 Morse taper head and tail stocks, so can be used for small things.

But I have 7, 10, and 11 inch swing metal lathes, and several 12 inch, and 350mm, 20 inch, 28 inch swing wood lathes along with a few others whose only redeeming virtue is being cute.

[Old Croc]

Thanks Crocy,
Logic does not play a large part in this.
Yes I realise I could get something better for less money, but I just love old stuff.

thanks for the input just the same.

Hi again Michael,
Not disagreeing with you there, as I do the same. Still using a 1961 Nuttall Metal lathe, a 1898 Robinson bandsaw, a 1946 Parkanson Powerhacksaw, all fully restored and on and on. Old machinery is great.
rgds,
Crocy.

[DaveTTC]

Luxos,

My appologies, did not get to the lathe today. I have just inherited my brothers twins while he undergoes chemo therapy. I have a busy day tomorrow but hope to fit it in. It is just a matter of remembering to take a few clicks at the right time.


Dave the turning cowboy

turning wood into art

[Luxos]

Luxos,

My appologies, did not get to the lathe today. I have just inherited my brothers twins while he undergoes chemo therapy. I have a busy day tomorrow but hope to fit it in. It is just a matter of remembering to take a few clicks at the right time.


Dave the turning cowboy

turning wood into art
No hurry Dave.
It has been in my shed for 15 years...

[DaveTTC]

just logged in and saw your reply ... was timely reminder

This is one of my old units

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/05/28/u3e9uvan.jpg

I think this housing may be newer than yours. Excuse the morse taper ... think some wasp decided it was a good spot

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/05/28/pasy7uzy.jpg

and here is an over head

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/05/28/e9ujegyr.jpg

This other one is more like yours I think

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/05/28/vude5yqe.jpg

backing up a little you can see it has a saw table on it

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/05/28/yjyjuve7.jpg

Here is looking in from the other end

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/05/28/ymuqaqus.jpg

They are both pretty well as purchased, both need to be restored.


Dave the turning cowboy

turning wood into art

[DaveTTC]

One pic doubled up, here is the one I meant

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/05/28/de3equ7u.jpg


Dave the turning cowboy

turning wood into art

[Alarose]

Hi,I am also doing up a Herbert wood lathe,I am lucky I have all the bits but still need to get a morse taper that suits,a #1morse taper I think,any machine workshop should be able to turn a shaft,Mendham Engineering at Rocklea should be able to help. Cheers Alan.

[wheelinround]

Dave have you done yours up yet?:p

[DaveTTC]

Dave have you done yours up yet?:p
Not yet. Lacking time to work on it but it will happen sooner or later

Dave TTC
Turning Wood Into Art

[Christos]

Not yet. Lacking time to work on it but it will happen sooner or later...

You are a very busy person.

[DaveTTC]

You are a very busy person.
Tell me about it. Oh you just did. If i can fix one lathe a year I think I have enough to keep me till I retire. Man that either makes me sound old or like i have a lot of lathes

Dave TTC
Turning Wood Into Art

[pampelmuse]

Dave,
If you've done a few of these or can tell by inspecting it, do you know how I would be able to reverse the arrangement of the pulleys in the headstock of the Herbert Type C you posted pics of. I built a stand for it intending to reverse the orientation of the motor and hence need to reverse the pulleys so they line up small to large with the large to small pulleys of the headstock. Trouble is I can't see how the shaft can be removed from the bearings.

BTW, It looks like on the photo that your lathe only has only one pulley on the motor, is that correct.



Tell me about it. Oh you just did. If i can fix one lathe a year I think I have enough to keep me till I retire. Man that either makes me sound old or like i have a lot of lathes

Dave TTC
Turning Wood Into Art

[DaveTTC]

Can you post a pic of you headstock again

I'm assuming your's is the one with a solid cat headstock enclosing the pulleys

Dave TTC
Turning Wood Into Art

[pampelmuse]

it's the same unit as your pic no. 1 in your post #16 of this thread. You can have the motor mounted below or behind the headstock but you have to remove the shaft in order to replace the v belt so it must be easy enough to do. I think the flange at the right hand side of the stock is part of the shaft so you would have to drive the shaft out towards the bed side of the lathe but not sure. If the former is true though I somehow have to remove the conical shaped saw blade arbour on the other side of the headstock which is held on with a brass press fit bushing. I don't want to damage this bushing as I don't have a replacement.

[DaveTTC]

Yes you have to remove spindle and bed shaft to mount underneath. Im not at my lathe till tomorrow but will jave a quick look when im there.

Dave TTC
Turning Wood Into Art