Thread: A Hercus owners register??

Ken, I am not a hercus owner, and probably won't ever be (not smart enough!)

In addition to your circular, could I suggest a new feature of this forum? There is now the facility to set up groups, called Social Groups, under User CP. You could set up a Hercus Owners Group and invite all Hercus Owners to join this group. If nothing else it would make it very easy to contact all Hercus Owners via this group.

Fred

Originally Posted by neksmerj

Since there seems to be a lot of interest lately from Hercus owners,
one of our members, bitza500, thought a register of Hercus lathe owners, would be a good idea.

I also think it is a good idea, so I'll start the ball rolling to the gauge interest.

Basically, I envisage a pre-prepared form being sent out to interested members, whereby the details can be filled in and sent back.

Information could then be exchanged between members, to the benefit of all.

What do you reckon fellas, see any problems?

Ken

I see a lot of potential problems , like list could get sold to criminals , spamers , advertising agencies, etc.
Why don't you start the ball rolling by posting your Name & address and the model lathe you own? It is no different to what you are suggesting.
I'm sure your heart is in the right place but I personally don't think it would be very popular .

Originally Posted by Retromilling

I see a lot of potential problems , like list could get sold to criminals , spamers , advertising agencies, etc.
Why don't you start the ball rolling by posting your Name & address and the model lathe you own? It is no different to what you are suggesting.
I'm sure your heart is in the right place but I personally don't think it would be very popular .

Not really sure how you can be so paranoid about some type of refference to owners of hercus lathes or in general any machine tools.
If some how there were these criminals spammers or advertising agencies that concern you wouldnt they allready have a list of owners ,you would only have to read the posts or threads to get a register of whos got what.(I just think its funny)

In regards to your thoughts Ken I would think it would be quite advantagous to some members who have either a limited knowledge of the Hercus wether that be from a repair or maching view.
I understand that the basics of maching are the same irraspective of the type of machine.
But there are times when you may wish to ask a question solely based on Hercus machines.
Just my thoughts and I would be happy to register my machine details.

Originally Posted by pipeclay

Not really sure how you can be so paranoid about some type of refference to owners of hercus lathes or in general any machine tools.
If some how there were these criminals spammers or advertising agencies that concern you wouldnt they allready have a list of owners ,you would only have to read the posts or threads to get a register of whos got what.(I just think its funny)
.

I tend to agree with you pipeclay - we should be a little realistic about these kinds of concerns.

Having said that, I am a member of the NSW Peugeot Club and some Egyptian guy has got hold of the membership list and every now and then rings to ask if I know of any old Pugs for sale - apparently the 504 is still the mainstay of the Cairo taxi fleet and they buy up any old 504 they can for spare parts to keep the fleet going (even though most parts are still available ex-factory from France). So far they have just been an irritation, but I wonder whether they will be organising theft rings next.

Even then, I can't see a Hercus lathe theft ring (except if it is by rival owners seeking difficult-to-source parts... I suspect that the real result willl be that people will get together to make joint orders for small production runs of parts rather than trying to heist each other's machine..

Originally Posted by pipeclay

Not really sure how you can be so paranoid about some type of refference to owners of hercus lathes or in general any machine tools.
If some how there were these criminals spammers or advertising agencies that concern you wouldnt they allready have a list of owners ,you would only have to read the posts or threads to get a register of whos got what.(I just think its funny)

In regards to your thoughts Ken I would think it would be quite advantagous to some members who have either a limited knowledge of the Hercus wether that be from a repair or maching view.
I understand that the basics of maching are the same irraspective of the type of machine.
But there are times when you may wish to ask a question solely based on Hercus machines.
Just my thoughts and I would be happy to register my machine details.

It was just my opinion there is no need to throw around insults .
You are welcome to put your name and address and a list of what you own on any list you like but don't try to brow beat others into your way of thinking .

Sorry if you felt offended (not sure where the insult is).

I dont think that anyone who would be interested in a register would be willing to supply their address or phone no or contact details on an open register.I know I wouldn't.

To have a list of members with the model of there machines and acessories they may have,maybe usefull ,9If only to ask how beneficial they are or how to use them or if possible to hire or borrow to get some idea of them prior to a possible purchase)

Once again I appoligise if you felt offended but still think the worry is funny.

Dear Hercus owners.

I've had a number of private messages, and judging by the negative feelings expressed here, the Hercus Register idea is off for now.

The idea was simply to keep a private, closed list of Hercus owners, and shared only between Hercus owners, allowing members to freely exchange ideas, questions, problems, parts etc.

I guess all of the above can be done right here on the forum.

I respect everyone's concerns, so that's the end of it.

Ken

There is a south bend lathe group on yahoo, in fact there are two. Not particularly active but they exist and you don't have to do anything but join.

Just a thought.

As I was the one who offered my services to get a register going I think some people have realy got the wrong idea

My main aim was to get your user name which is already on the forum what year is the Hercus and the Serial number

As far as Name and addresses goes that is not needed I am solely after Hercus 9" owners who would not mind being on a register so we can date what machines is in the forum group serial numbers to find the oldest to the newest plus be able to email the person who may have more experience about Hercus problems plus a parts register as someone is always chasing parts and if there is a register with just a side note stating what parts you have spare to sell It could be a great benefit as I know there are groups in America who have there own website and they have pictures of the lathe and their workshop and plus a little note about themselves

Now can this be harmfull as it is only to find what Hercus's are left and to help each other as some may have had a Hercus for 20 years and know all the problems and how to fix certain problems plus make a register with user name and date of buld and go from there as there is quite a few Hercus owners and to get a Register so people can ask specific questions to another hercus Owner with the same age Machine as I have a 1941 and a 1948 scattered around the garage and I will need help when it comes to assembling as both Machines are so different

Please let me know as I will gladly set up the register and if you have parts for sale can put that on the register as well and it is still using the Forum username just doing a headcount and age of Machines

all the best Derek

There is no invasion of privacy if you are only giving your user name serial number year of build and any parts for sale plus KNOWLEDGE which is needed a lot when rebuilding a old lathe so does this sound better as your user name is already on the forum and serial number and year is hardly invasion of privacy it is just a group of Hercus owners who want to see who has what and a picture and if you have parts lying around

Well after reading all the responses I will write in my self what I mean about a register
bitza500 Hercus 1948 serial 4891
bitza500 Hercus 1941 Serial VB316

Now this is all I mean basic no intrusions no privacy invasions just Forum User name year and Serial Number

Now I may get emails about my 1941 Hercus with the weird serial Number or the low number

Or I could list spare parts which someone may be chasing

Is their a INVASION OF PRIVACY if all Hercus Owners were to send me their user name year and Serial Number as probably half the forum alredy know who has what but I want to do it to keep the poor old Hercus from disappering and to use it to help other Hercus Owners

Can you see who I am and were I live ???

This is just a BASIC register and nothing more

I hope people can see that what I want to do has probably be written by the owners when on the Forum and just gives a little insight into what age the Lathe is and what condition as both of mine are splattered around my garage in the process of restoring
So who is next to put their User Name and year and serial number of their HERCUS 9" ??????????????????????

all the best Derek

Well said Bitz.
You have explained the benefits and objectives clearly.
You may even have stirred the blood of many "gunna" Hercus project owners.
Be happy to provide details, just have to clean the bed to read the numbers first.
Peter

Well bitz how about if we just have a thread for Hercus owners. Now being the proud owner of one I can see I need lots of info. Or I can just keep putting up topics here and let all look at it. I have no problems having my lathe details up here as comparing notes is very handy.
All the best
Gene

Bitza500,

For your records

User name-Neksmerj

Type- 9" Hercus model AR
Serial No-13328
Mfg year-1973
Colour- green

Condition- under restoration

Ken

Not trying to be Big Brother I was hoping to find out about all the Hercus Lathes that Forum owners have as like myself and others when you rebuild a Hercus you can get stuck and as I have been doing mine for 10Months and still not going
I would like to just have a list of Hercus owners and their year and condition of the Lathe just as Ken has done as while Gene has a point we have just a Hercus thread this would not work
To do it properly you would have to start up a Hercus Club which would require a lot more than my original intention as Hercus has no History on our Lathes parts are getting scarce and just to be able to email another Hercus Owner with the same model and year? to ask for information as I am chasing parts and falling on deaf ears as either nobody wants to sell their spares or there is none left
Mick Moyles I emailed and asked if they 10 aprrox parts REPLY NOT A ONE YET as they were getting more in
Newmac in Bayswater in Victoria only have new parts or S/H lathes

So where do we go from there I have heard of Hercus Lathes being found at tips and scrapmetal yards

I just do not believe that if you use your user name ( not traceable)
state the year model and condition of your lathe (who else would be interested ?)
And if you know of places where Hercus parts S/H can be found

I brought into Australia over 20 boxes of Southbend 9" lathe Parts all the parts I bought interchanged UNTIL IT CAME TO THE LOCATION OF THE TAPERED PIN

As I have 3 complete carraige assemblies not one of the levers or handles that used tapered pins would be the same it looks like they must have drilled and reamed on the machine ????

As I have 3 assemblies in bits I went through all the items and the TAPERED PIN was in a different position on all 3 full assemblies

Who would have known as the 1941 Tassie Devil VB316 has the crudest drilling and reaming of tapered holes I have ever seen even the pins were different

The South Bend was by far the best fitting of the 3 assemblies as non of this hit the dags off with a grinder all well machined and clean castings

Which leads me to the next THREAD

Who would buy a SouthBend Lathe Part if they could not get a Hercus Part as they are all nearly NOT AVAILABLE as the Yanks are gutting 9" lathes on a daily basis and if we had a Register we could discuss such ideas of bringing in South Bend Parts ??
Or I have a Toolmaker who has given me free rein to make anything so long as I am not disturbing his work
The common Back gear broken teeth the large gear is available from Mick Moyles but the small one bad luck you buy a back gear with a broken large gear and Mick can supply a replacement gear ring
But not for the small gear which I am looking into making myself and the new gear will be a press fit after machining and maybe weld after that as I am about to cut up a back gear to see how they are made as I think they are pressed and welded

OK I have gone on long enough is there any other willing Hercus Owners want to start a register up and see if we can find the oldest to the newest HERCUS 9" lathe
and only User name is needed noreal names as it is to our benefit to stick together to keep the Hercus 9" alive and maybe find more on the way

I end my case if you can see a problem in this basic Register bar that it is only Hercus 9" lathes let me know as I am always wanting answers and who do you ask and is it the same model as the 1941 and the 1948 could not be so much different in every aspect

The Floor is OPEN
all the best Derek