Thread: Seeking advice on a Bursgreen Sagar lathe

If you post some pics we might be able to tell you more about it, are you wanting to get into woodturning?

Apologies, I was having issues submitting the form yesterday. I've just taken some photos. I don't have any interest in learning woodturning at this stage, I'm more trying to figure out what one does with a lathe like this? Could I donate it to the local woodworking organisation or is it a big piece of scrap metal? If anyone has any insight they could offer I would be very appreciative, I know nothing about this subject matter

IMG_3980.jpgIMG_3979.jpgIMG_3978.jpgIMG_3977.jpgIMG_3976.jpgIMG_3975.jpgIMG_3974.jpgIMG_3973.jpgIMG_3972.jpg

Its a very good old lathe for the more serious turner. Made for production work rather than hobby use so top quality in its day. There are some out there who restore those old machines but that looks to be in reasonable condition. The electrics look like they have been modernised at some stage too. Hopefully some more expert than me will chime in.
Regards
John

That’s a decent lathe and has the pattern makers tool attachment with it. If you advertise it right a couple of guys with a trailer and engine hoist will take it away pretty quickly. The better the price the faster it will go away.

I’ve never seen catalog pictures of early Bursgreen Sagar lathes before . It’d be great to compare this machine to and see pictures anyone has got any to add. I’m wondering if the head stock end is all original. It most likely is but looks a bit fabricated. Same with the tail stock height extension.

Rob

Originally Posted by bbourke

Apologies, I was having issues submitting the form yesterday. I've just taken some photos. I don't have any interest in learning woodturning at this stage, I'm more trying to figure out what one does with a lathe like this? Could I donate it to the local woodworking organisation or is it a big piece of scrap metal? If anyone has any insight they could offer I would be very appreciative, I know nothing about this subject matter

IMG_3972.jpg

Sagar bought Bursgreen around 1947 and in turn Wadkin bought these 2 amalgamated companies a few years later, there could be parts missing, maybe they got taken to the tip when the shed was cleared, but the lathe was too big and heavy.

Not sure a Men's Shed would want it due to it's size and age, I collect old machinery and would be interested in it, should you wish to sell, you will have to PM me to discuss further.

Originally Posted by auscab

...I’ve never seen catalog pictures of early Bursgreen Sagar lathes before...

I think this lathe must have started life as a Sagar GFA - but without the gap.

Sagar GFA.jpg

Originally Posted by auscab

...I’m wondering if the head stock end is all original. It most likely is but looks a bit fabricated...

The top portion from the spindle area up looks original, but I'd say there's an extension that's been welded in somewhere below that. The tailstock I would guess is from a metal lathe (note the inverted vee)

tailstock.jpg

Originally Posted by auscab

...and has the pattern makers tool attachment with it...

Sagar GFA ctr.png Catalogue picture of the "compound tool rest".


Both catalogue pictures from the 1955 Sagar catalogue on VM.org.

Cheers, Vann.

Originally Posted by Camelot

Sagar bought Bursgreen around 1947 and in turn Wadkin bought these 2 amalgamated companies a few years later, there could be parts missing, maybe they got taken to the tip when the shed was cleared, but the lathe was too big and heavy.

Not sure a Men's Shed would want it due to it's size and age, I collect old machinery and would be interested in it, should you wish to sell, you will have to PM me to discuss further.

Thanks Camelot, don't seem to be able to PM yet, possibly due to being a new member? Is there anything in particular I should be looking out for? There are some old tools and things laying around the shed but I'm yet to really go through them properly. Lathe is located an hour south of Cairns

Originally Posted by bbourke

Thanks Camelot, don't seem to be able to PM yet, possibly due to being a new member? Is there anything in particular I should be looking out for? There are some old tools and things laying around the shed but I'm yet to really go through them properly. Lathe is located an hour south of Cairns

You may need to make say 5 or 10 posts before being able to PM.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C5kM778NDA_/

This is a Wadkin pattern makers lathe, in this video you will see the tower that holds the knife, this is for use with the carriage, your lathe is missing this part.

Wadkin BSW 650

I bought this machine from Cairns

I just noticed something else which isn't right, the Headstock casting has been lifted with steel box section to make the bed level, I can't see your concrete floor being that much out of level so I wonder what the story as to why they needed to do this. the beds got the Bursgreen Sager Tag on it so you would think that would be original, maybe the legs holding the bed are not original.

Originally Posted by Camelot

...the Headstock casting has been lifted with steel box section to make the bed level...

I noticed that too. I concluded (probably wrongly) that the tail end leg is original (I can't see the foot to be sure) - and that as part of the increase in swing, the bed was lowered at the headstock end, requiring a packer under the headstock to level the machine. Maybe there was some reason the spindle couldn't be raised higher when the headstock was modified...

Cheers, Vann.