Thread: Hercus gearbox plate

Originally Posted by Burnsy

Mal, gearbox pics from the Craftsman, is this what you were chasing?

Hi Mike,
That's just what I needed. Very interested in all photos of the craftsman range, you don't see a lot and I like to be able to see how they changed the design between it and the 9", I'll take as many pics as I can get from as many angles as possible, if you don't mind a photo essay on the subject. Totally understand if don't want to, I tend to be a pain about this sort of thing. Do you know, is it just the headstock and underdrive thats changed or is there more involved. I wonder why they stopped production so quickly on that model.
Mal

Had a definate answer from Steve Durden to-day, they won't be giving permission to remake the gearbox plates in the original format, under any conditions, even under a profitable licence. I was told they have no intentions of remaking the parts themselves, they are going to look and see if there are any of the old ones left in stock, but if they find any they will be the last originals available.
That means the new plates will have to be made without any mention of the name Hercus. Anyone want to suggest what should replace the now blank spots on the plate.Will anyone want one if it's not an exact replica, don't want to spend funds I have no means of getting back.

Back to the original point of the thread:
I don't have any plates on mine and would use both imp and metric threads/feeds. I'll take one of each for my mine, when available.

I'm not trying for a 'restoro' device, just a clean, useful lathe that is more accurate than me. OK so I'm a Philistine.

Originally Posted by allterrain50

Hi Mike,
That's just what I needed. Very interested in all photos of the craftsman range, you don't see a lot and I like to be able to see how they changed the design between it and the 9", I'll take as many pics as I can get from as many angles as possible, if you don't mind a photo essay on the subject. Totally understand if don't want to, I tend to be a pain about this sort of thing. Do you know, is it just the headstock and underdrive thats changed or is there more involved. I wonder why they stopped production so quickly on that model.
Mal

hi
i will take one for a 9" a imperial
steve

Originally Posted by allterrain50

Had a definate answer from Steve Durden to-day, they won't be giving permission to remake the gearbox plates in the original format, under any conditions, even under a profitable licence. I was told they have no intentions of remaking the parts themselves, they are going to look and see if there are any of the old ones left in stock, but if they find any they will be the last originals available.
That means the new plates will have to be made without any mention of the name Hercus. Anyone want to suggest what should replace the now blank spots on the plate.Will anyone want one if it's not an exact replica, don't want to spend funds I have no means of getting back.

hi mal
i will take one for a 9"a imperial
steve

This is the style I have chosen for the new plate, the 9" metric is shown but it will be similar on any model that is remade. Excuse the rough overlay but it's only to test owner reaction. The original is shown to indicate the changes made.

Looks good to me Mal.


Thx
Jon

I think it'd be OK just to remove all Hercus wording, and leave those areas blank.

Jordan

Originally Posted by nadroj

I think it'd be OK just to remove all Hercus wording, and leave those areas blank.

Jordan

Hi Jordan,
The wording on the top of the plate in both versions is the only placed that states the machine is Australian made, I think this has to stay. As for the "9 INCH" instead of "HERCUS", I tried leaving that blank first and it just didn't look right. It also differentiates the plate from the 260 models, which will have a different one made. Something has to be there, if someone has a better idea to replace the word Hercus I'll use it.
regards Mal

What about shonk or shonkus.

Shonk or Shonkus ?? ? !!!! Nice one.

What about "Furphy" or "ACME" ?

HercAus ?

Originally Posted by Tiptoeturtle

Shonk or Shonkus ?? ? !!!! Nice one.

What about "Furphy" or "ACME" ?

HercAus ?

While we are talking about rediculous replacements, maybe the Latin version "JERCUS" would seem a better option.

"Made in" wherever would normally be at the bottom of any badge, if one has much sense of design aesthetics.

If one went back to the drawing board and started from scratch, maybe some missing but useful information like spindle speeds at various belt settings, lubrication specs, leadscrew specs or more clear rectangular areas of bare metal for customised / self-applied alpha-numeric punch use could be provided.

More silly names:

The Budgie, The Magpie, The Goana

"Norton Gearbox"

"Do not change gears while machine is turning" (?)