Thread: Bull Gear Info From F.W. Hercus

HI All,
For a start the Hercus Lathe that I own is a 1958 Model A Plain Bearing Lathe Serial Number 'A6462'. I had to Email F.W. Hercus in relation to a New Bull Gear I bought of them last year (4/06/2008) via eBay. I discovered some months later that My Lathes Bull Gear has 76 teeth. Yet the one I bought of eBay has 75 teeth. Their Reply was over three Emails- after the first they did some checking.

Firstly Jim Durden said their Stock Records does not list a 76 Tooth Bull Gear. He said that the Bull Gear teeth for the 9" and 260 Lathes are the same 75 teeth Bore and Width etc are different. Though maybe someone has fitted a Southbend Set to My lathe.

Secondly Jim had discovered a decommisioned Model A 9" Lathe that they have with a 76 tooth Bull Gear and offered to refund My Money. Obviously a very good Business and eBay Seller, considering he was prepared to refund My Money after 18 Months.

Thirdly Jim had asked Allan Durden to chase up some Bull Gear info. The only drawings and production data he could find with regards to Hercus Lathe Bull Gears was 1. Hercus 9" Lathe - 75T Bull Gear with face width of 5/8" 2. Hercus 260 Lathe - 75T Bull Gear with face width of 3/4"
Allan Investigated further by Speaking to a Retired Mr Hercus. He found out that the early version of the 9" Lathe did have a 76T Bull Gear for the Plain Bearing Lathe. The following is a direct Quote - "Some time during the machine life cycle and before the roller bearing lathe was introduced the number of teeth on the bull gear was decreased to add strength to the gear form. The 76T and 75T gears are interchangeable on all plain and roller bearing 9' lathes."

Please also see pipeclays thread in regards to Bull Gear tooth count.
All The Beststeran50 Stewart