Thread: Forbes lathe KS3.5

Hi all, I just bought this lathe today.
It's a Forbes KS3.5 it has 260mm swing and 650mm between centres.

Does anyone else have one like it?

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There are a few things that need some attention, and it needs a good clean up. The guy I bought it from, has had it since new. His father bought it for him in 1975.
He was having a shed cleanout and thought it was a good idea to sell it.

I had a bit of a look around the net, couldnt find too much.
Though I did find somewhere that someone said it was a South Bend clone, along with Hercus and a couple of others.

From a few pictures I have seen of the Hercus 260 from around the same era, they both look pretty similar.
It would be interesting to know how close they are. From the feel I get, the Hercus would be easier to get parts for.

I think I will just give it a good cleanup for now, and just fix the problems I can see, and use it for a while. With a view to giving it a proper overhaul at a later date.