Thread: Greetings from a "Newbie"

if you went thru 3 hercus lathes I think that's a record they last like forever with diligent care.

Peter
Mine is an ATL 20052.
Had it since new, a marvellous machine.
I look after it carefully, it will outlast me.
regards
Bruce
ps Just fitted new wiper felts to the saddle. The slideways are like new.
Just keep filings & abrasives off & yours will last a long time, with some lube.

Originally Posted by slickmelb

if you went thru 3 hercus lathes I think that's a record they last like forever with diligent care.

He didn't say he wore them out. I read that he was upgrading each time.

This is correct.
My first one was an older 9", ex-education school machine, the saddle had been broken in half and welded up, the tailstock was a different serial number from the bed, pointing down and needed shimming, the ways on the bed looked like a cold chisel had been used on her (too many dropped chucks), the lead/feed screw was slightly bent and the right bearing needed to be shimmed, the combination slide had massive chunks taken out from her by getting too close to chucks under power feed (I presume).

All in all I had a lot of fun using her and machined many fine components for chemical annalysis machines out of plastic and acryilics.

I wanted to update to a machine that was not in so sad condition and could cut Metric threads.

I then bought two 260 BTM's, both ex-education machines, as usual they both had a hard life, both had blued spindle bearings from no oil and sounded like trains, but I managed to make a good one of the two, sold any usable parts on e-Bay to make up some of the costs incured.

But she was a "B" model and I wanted a quick change gearbox, so I hunted around for a gearbox and came across a near perfect 260 ATM which I snapped up, not needing two similar machines I sold the "B" model on e-Bay.

My 260 ATM is my favorite machine, I use her the most, but I do wish I could get a real nice 9" so cutting imperial threads would be easier using the thread chasing dial rather than reversing the machine to the start of the thread as I do on the 260 ATM.

A "Happy Easter" to all

Peter.

Good evening to all forum members,it is my first post here.I see the joviality that quite a few members here share.Like any one new to any arena breaking the ice is the hardest step.
For the last couple of years I have viewed this and the general metal working forums.I really enjoy the input that some of these old school members share their wealth of information and experiences.As an old school tradesman,some thing can be learned here.
Here in central Victoria where I reside and toil,there are few,sadly a dying breed to pool ideas and enhance the metal trades.
Am a fifth generation person coming from a farming and engineering back ground '' the mr fixits of the district so to speak.
Last year[late] I managed to aquire a Hercus type A ser no A 1892 with matching tailstock.Was bought new in Sydney and remained in the family of the now deceased gent.A real one owner,never abused and as accurate as the day it was delivered.approx 1947.A very fussy and precise tradesman this man was.I bought it from his son and was delighted that it was going to some one who really enjoys his machine tools.Is very grubby in appearance and the first impression would put any prospective purchaser off. Doing the normal checks I cannot detect any taper or abnormalities.Judging by the extensive tooling and bits and pieces that came with the lathe it performed in many topics of engineering, former owner worked in the atomic research lab and performed all his ideas and innovations on this machine.
It shares its place with a huge collection of machine tools and now is earning its keep. John.

Originally Posted by j.ashburn

...... former owner worked in the atomic research lab and performed all his ideas and innovations on this machine....... John.

John, did you already check with lights off, does she glow in the dark?

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Good luck with your new machine. Let us see some pics as you go.

Have'nt run the Geiger counter over it, but maybe there is atomic dust on its grimy livery. Cheers John.