I’ve bought a small metal lathe and have a few queries, I’d be grateful for any advice.
I have used wood lathes for some time. no previous experience with metal lathes beyond reading up about them.
This is what I bought.
as bought.jpg


No makers markings of any kind that I can find. The leadscrew is 8tpi and all the fasteners need a Whitworth spanner so I’m guessing it’s pretty old.


The change gears have a pin connection between the collar and the cog. The gears themselves are a 5/8” bore so I can probably make Myford ML7 gears fit.

change gear pin coupling.jpg change gear pin coupling boss.jpg


I have a query about what I think is a tpi indicator cog to the side of the half nut. The teeth on it have a distinct arched shape. Is this normal or is it worn to the point I need a replacement.

tpi cog 1.jpg tpi cog tooth shape.jpg





Also there is a function on the headstock which mystifies me.

headstock.jpg


Between the small 20 tooth boss cog and the pulleys there is a 60 tooth gear which doesn’t mesh with anything. Offset to one side are a smaller gear on the same side as the 60 tooth on the main spindle and another 60 tooth gear on the opposite side of the casting. Arrowed in the pic.

unknown function arrow.jpg


Inset into the casting is a lever which when pulled up moves both of these sideways so that the small cog meshes with the 60 tooth cog and then the other 60 tooth cog turns in the opposite direction to the one on the main spindle.

unknown function 2 arrow.jpg



At first I thought it was a reversing mechanism missing parts but I can’t see how it would work. The main spindle seems solid and when the 60 tooth cog moves over beside the pulley there doesn’t seem to be room for another cog. Could it be part of some indexing mechanism?

I'll be grateful for any comments on the above or any suggestions as to manufacturer so that I can narrow down my online searches.
Attached Images




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