Thread: Lathe Identification

Welcome to the forum Faceman,

Have a look at this site, may help you with information:

http://www.lathes.co.uk/willson/

cheers,

camo

Thanks camoz,

From the description it appears Wilson was bought out in 1966 and ceased to produce any machines under their name after that time.

It looks similar to the circa 1940/1950's lathes, but I'm no expert.

Are there any particular features of the lathes that would give an indication as to its age?

That is a stout looking lathe and one i would be very pleased with if i had picked it up. You have the two chucks which fit which is a huge bonus. Its very easy over here to pick up any old lathe for perhaps £150 and then ulitimately have to go looking for more chucks for a rare or unusual lathe for which you are incredibly lucky if you can find any that just fit straight on.

You have a nice T slotted saddle on that machine too which will doubtless come in very handy at some point. The countershaft cone pulley is there too which is often missing, so it looks all complete to me, nice flat belt drive and with a tumbler gear box for screw cutting - it will be a joy to use.

Thanks sion.

I got in touch with Tony from lathes.co.uk and he believes it is dated 1920 - 1930's, is a fine lathe and has very good features.

The final questions now are:

1. How heavy are one of these things to move? Could I just jack it up with a (10 tonne) bottle jack and put it on some dolly's to move? There is a fair amount of very soft dirt that the machine has to go through to get it to a trailer, so not sure what the best option is.
2. Any approximate valuation?

I can't really help you with valuation as i'm on the wrong continent, but if it was here in the uk i think i would expect to get it at auction (ebay) for around £200 or maybe a little less. Probably just beating the scrap man really. As for moving it i can only suggest you take it to bits, its often the safest way and if you plan a clean up operation then you may find yourself doing that to a great extent anyway. Usually the head and tail stocks will come away very easily and will much reduce the 'top heavy' weight, and then anything else you can take off easily will just help maters still further, it looks to me as if this lathe has a cast apron, and then cast legs; if so all will be bolted together with a few large bolts that were probably well greased when they were originally put there. In a matter of an hour or so you may be able to reduce it down to parts which 2 people can lift and will easily be wheeled out on a sack truck, i think it doesn't usually take any longer overall than struggling with the machine in one piece.

gee less than 200 quid, thats about $400 AUD... hardly worth the 1000km trip to go and get the thing! Looks like itll just have to stay there and rust... pity really.

Here is one on ebay uk to compare, i imagine a little later in design as its got a gearbox headstock.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...E:B:SS:GB:1120

Thanks sion, Ill keep an eye on it and see what it ends up going for - probably about as good as it gets for a rough comparison.