Thread: Hercus 260 - restored/new?

Originally Posted by sacc51

I spotted this in a small machine shop in Reclamation Street Kowloon, the owner rushed me across to it as soon as I entered his shop. The shop owner was happy to unwrap it a little for pictures and gave me a business card with the price - $4500. This lathe just didn't look like a restored one, the ways and all bare metal surfaces (that I could see) were uniform and new looking. It looked new???

If it was still brand new and completely unused, it would still be full of grease in its original wooden export crate. And despite the grease, it would most likely show at least some discoloration on blank metal parts.

That said, it is still possible to find nearly unused and completely unworn Hercus 260's. They may have been sitting 15 or 20 years in an electronics prototyping workshop, being used to part off a tiny brass spacer or two every month, and otherwise kept well oiled under a bedsheet ready to be used just in case. I personally bought a barely used and completely unworn Hercus 260 about 4 years ago, the owner had taken it instead of pay some 20 years ago, and kept it in storage ever since. It had light surface rust and the paint had deteriorated. I paid nearly $4k for it, and still think it was worth it. It came with 2 near new chucks and vertical slide/vise and lots of tools/accessories.

In your case, if its really clean and unused and also come with plenty accessories, it may be worth considering if what you are after is a simple and old fashioned bench lathe. You must feel confident and experienced enough to assess if its really unused and unworn, or if someone did a "quick restoration" with emery cloth and paint. Or take along an experienced person that you can trust - else better forget about. Also, the way I know HK, the $4500 will be negotiable. With plenty of genuine accessories and really unworn and in top condition, it would be worth the asking price to the right person.

Not a scratch on it and heavily greased, same as the brand new Chinese lathes either side of it, except for the glad wrap. I scraped some grease off the ways, but the shop keeper stopped me before I went too far. Something to consider though, if it was left in a wooden crate on the shop floor, I don't think it would create much interest, about as much as Machinery House leaving all their floor models in crates I guess, I think they call it 'display'!

Of no interest to me though, I only posted it for interest's sake. I thought I posted this in the Hercus Forum actually, the gremlins must be hard at work again!

Originally Posted by sacc51

I thought I posted this in the Hercus Forum actually, the gremlins must be hard at work again!

It's in the Hercus Area now!

That's better, pesky gremlins...

The Member Pete Fleming, extracted his 260 out of Hong Kong a few years ago, and it was brand new. (Old but new).

Wouldn't suprise me if it was the same place.

Regards Phil.

Originally Posted by sacc51

I spotted this in a small machine shop in Reclamation Street Kowloon, the owner rushed me across to it as soon as I entered his shop. The shop owner was happy to unwrap it a little for pictures and gave me a business card with the price - $4500. This lathe just didn't look like a restored one, the ways and all bare metal surfaces (that I could see) were uniform and new looking. It looked new???

did you happen to note its serial number.
Mal

If sacc51 can PM me the address I'll get a mate to go and have a look for the S/N