Thread: Show us your Hercus

Hi All
As I am very new to this I will just start in the hopes my message will arrive in the correct spot.
As I look around some of the pictures of all the Hercus lathes, I never realised there was such a following, but most of you guys have put me to shame already.

Almost twenty years ago now I managed to acquire two Hercus Craftsman model lathes mostly I think they were cheap and came from the Firm where I worked. As they were dismantled for transport they have been stored in various boxes, with the cabinets clogging up my workshop. The whole idea was my sons may like to be involved in the refurbishment etc. the prize being to have one each to play with. Well the idea did not work as one son has no interest and the other son will take the rest of the shop one day so has no need.

I have now finally started the rebuild process very slowly as you can imagine. To this point I have only managed the time to strip the head of one unit and cleen and paint the bed,saddle and topslide etc. now I have parts everywhere.

I will try and keep this history going and maybe a few pictures if im game. So if anyone has any questions or suggestions please feel free.

Ray

Hi Ray, yes you have found the right spot and as we are 2 suburbs away from each other you must call in and have a look at the completed old Girls plus my unofficial spare parts collection
Would you care to register your lathes nothing sinister I just started the register to try and get more info and have someone to call on if I get stuck
All I need is the serial number and the model and I assume they are both GREEN???

Just make sure you have plenty of plastic bags to put your parts in and mark them well and take pictures as you pull apart saves a lot of hassle later on believe me I know as mine was bought Oct 07 and still not complete it runs and can be used but
the BUT is I do not have the time as I am always busy, makes me wonder how I managed when I was working before my accident

As I live in Dorset Rd Croydon we cannot be to far away from each other and you are more than welcome to drop in and have a look and say hello (SORRY KEN)

Do you have any paperwork on the lathes as when I started the register the main thing I was after was HISTORYas for some strange reason HERCUS never kept their paperwork and very little is written about the old Girls plus all the other Hercus machines made since 1939

I would also like to see a different model Hercus as the more info and pictures the more of a chance of getting the facts or fiction sorted out

So if you want to call in ring me on 0415291212 or email me at
[email protected] as most of the Victorian Hercus owners have called in for parts and I am not afraid of giving my number or email out as most of the owners would have it anyway

So give us a call and lets dicuss the old girls

all the best Derek bitza500

Hi All,

I've put some info into the register and I thought I'd add a picture.

Originally Posted by footz

Well she is almost finished.

Gene I was wondering what colour and type of paint you used for your machine. I'm assuming it's not the original colour, but I've always likes that grey on machines.

Pete

Hi Pete, what a beautiful old original girl you have but the thread guage has me more intruiged did you make it yourself ?? or di it come that way as this is the second homemade thrad dial I have seen and am well very interestedas I would not mind making one if you have any plans/drawings
Can you let me know and can you give me a PM so I can look first hand

all the best from Croydon Derek bitza500

Hercus C1643

Ex Hobart Technical College, purchased new in 1982.
Now in my hands, bought at auction.

Very dirty, as usual I suppose with ex school stuff. Now clean and tidy awaiting conversion to 240v single phase.

Hi Iv'e got the basic model of the Hercus 260, ie CTM without gear box and powerfeed. had to make a few things for it, but its a fantastic lathe, can rip off 2mm in one cut useing indexable tools and tips, its also very accurate.
To make sure I was doing the right thing I got the Texbook of turning for the 260, I also got the 2 (two) parts manuals,
you do need both if you want to do any repairs or maintenance, the only thing is they expensive and the parts manuals are only a few pages long, the diagrams are only photo copies never the less they are indispensible, for me anyway.
It seems that there are not many 260's represented in this site even though its a very good site.
Good luck, and tell us what you intend to turn up.
John Holloway

Hi John,
Thanks for the information. Have you compared the " Textbook of Turning " featuring the 260 with what is contained in the earlier version which is available online ( links on this site, or I'll send to you ) for free ? I'm curious.

You mentioned two parts manuals, I was aware there is a third edition from 1980 and a fourth edition from 1990, but unaware there are two different parts manuals. Do they have different titles ?

I look forward to your reply, I'm only a learner here too. Look forward to your reply.

Cheers
Richard

I have the three books available from Hercus refering to the 260;
Text Book of Turning (4th edition 1990)
Parts Manual
Maintenance Manual (photocopy from original) showing numbered parts in section drawings.
The US Army manual on South Bend has very good exploded view diagrams and is available online.
Finno

Finno, a couple of questions please.

Does the parts manual you mention have an edition reference or publishing date ?

Other than the sectioned drawings, are there instructions for setting up a 260, such as freeplay of slide hand wheels, endfloat specifications of top and cross slides, alignment, etc ?

I have the " Textbook of Turning " featuring the earlier model and also the Army SB on line manuals.

Thanks, I look forward to your reply.

cheers
Richard

Does the parts manual you mention have an edition reference or publishing date ?
" Spare Parts Manual
Hercus 260 Lathe".....4th ED 1991

Other than the sectioned drawings, are there instructions for setting up a 260, such as freeplay of slide hand wheels, endfloat specifications of top and cross slides, alignment, etc ?
Most maintenance and removal/replacement procedures are in both the Text Book of Turning (later ed covering 260) and the Maintenance Manual.


Cheers, Finno

I spoke with Steve Durden at Hercus this morning on the subject.
There's nothing in any manual available which has the information/specifications I seek.

Certainly the Textbook of Turning does not cover this area and Steve advised he had no information, details or data of what I'm looking for.

Thankfully though, I was able to purchase the correct thread chasing dial indicator, which for the 260 ATM should have three series of numbers defining the graduations, rather than four lines at 90 ° to each other.

There is a copy of the inspection sheet from a 9in (1947) on the lathes.co.uk site which maybe close to what your after.
I have the specifications listed from the original advertising, but Steve would know that.
Is the former what your after?