Thread: Gawdelpus John's large lathe

Hard to tell how big it really is - I can understand that it could be considered large if primarily turning pens, but ...

A few years ago I sold a 7"x20" lathe with chucks, quick change tool post, steadies and all the bits. I struggled to get $1500 for it. It was of a similar origin, basic specification and appearance.
I would suggest that between $1200 to $1500 would be around the mark if it is of a similar size to that.
If you look at machinery house an AL51 is around that size and on special at the moment for just under $1400.

How much would I pay for a lathe like that if I were in the market? Probably around $1200 if in reasonable condition - after that I'd be looking at new. About the best guess I can come up with.

Michael

Originally Posted by Michael G

Hard to tell how big it really is - I can understand that it could be considered large if primarily turning pens, but ...

A few years ago I sold a 7"x20" lathe with chucks, quick change tool post, steadies and all the bits. I struggled to get $1500 for it. It was of a similar origin, basic specification and appearance.
I would suggest that between $1200 to $1500 would be around the mark if it is of a similar size to that.
If you look at machinery house an AL51 is around that size and on special at the moment for just under $1400.

How much would I pay for a lathe like that if I were in the market? Probably around $1200 if in reasonable condition - after that I'd be looking at new. About the best guess I can come up with.

Michael

Here in the UK they would just swap the dollar sign for a pound one.

Hi Neil, the value would depend on what tools are going with the lathe. Would it be possible to photograph everything that is going with the lathe, would be easier to tell?
Kryn

If you want people to put a value in it, it'd actually help if you posted some specifications as well as a couple photos.

Looks like a generic 6" centre height by 24" between centres lathe, Taiwanese made, probably 80's vintage. Spindle bore probably 38mm or so. Screwed spindle nose, nothing exotic or unusual about it.

Unless there's a *ton* of tooling with it (which I doubt as it doesn't even have a QCTP) I'd value it somewhere between $1500 and $2500, tops. Lots of good tooling, the upper end, only a basic 3 jaw, 4 jaw & faceplate, lower end.

That isn't really a big lathe.

PDW

If you look at the thread about lathe advice a little further down the page you will see a lathe similar to the one you have pictured,that was purchased for $1800.00.

Based on the condition of the lathe you have and the type of extras that are with it a similar price could be quite reasonable.

If on the other hand if the lathe is badly worn or if the gearing in the headstock or quick change gearbox is damaged / badly worn then the final price should reflect that.

From what I have seen of these types of lathes ( there is quite a few similar out there ) they seem to achieve around the $1200.00/$1500.00 on a regular basis,without many extras.

The extras in them selves as long as they are not standard original items could be worth quite a few hundred dollars in there own right.

Thanks guys, I should have taken some measurements. I have a 920 and it is a LOT bigger than that, the photo is misleading I guess. This wasn't his pen lathe it was his larger one, from back in the days of his fitter and turner days, but still used it for the odd large job (like the upgrades to mine ).

I'll see what else I can find out

Originally Posted by PDW

Looks like a generic 6" centre height by 24" between centres lathe, Taiwanese made, probably 80's vintage. Spindle bore probably 38mm or so. Screwed spindle nose, nothing exotic or unusual about it.

Unless there's a *ton* of tooling with it (which I doubt as it doesn't even have a QCTP) I'd value it somewhere between $1500 and $2500, tops. Lots of good tooling, the upper end, only a basic 3 jaw, 4 jaw & faceplate, lower end.

That isn't really a big lathe.

PDW

You could right, plate did say MFD 1984 and made in Taiwan. I was assuming the 800 was length between centres, ie ~32"

Originally Posted by dai sensei

Thanks guys, I should have taken some measurements. I have a 920 and it is a LOT bigger than that, the photo is misleading I guess. This wasn't his pen lathe it was his larger one, from back in the days of his fitter and turner days, but still used it for the odd large job (like the upgrades to mine ).

I'll see what else I can find out



You could right, plate did say MFD 1984 and made in Taiwan. I was assuming the 800 was length between centres, ie ~32"

They were pretty well made lathes, the ones I recall seeing came in either 24" between centres or 36" between centres. It looks like the shorter bed but photos can be tricky.

Either way, if in good shape it's a machine that should be easy to sell. I'd take that machine over a Hercus 9" any day and probably over a 260 as well, if it's got the 38mm spindle bore.

PDW

Originally Posted by PDW

..Either way, if in good shape it's a machine that should be easy to sell...

It's already sold, just trying to work out a reasonable price. Tempting, but I can't just say $10,000

Not sure how much of a bargain the buyer is expecting, but I would look at how much a new Chinese built lathe of the same size and features and accessories, then look at pricing it a bit south of there.

Ok got some dimensions back from his wife:
Overall size of lathe 1.6m long x 0.5m high (not including stand)
Swing - centre 230mm above bed
Bed - overall 900mm so I'm guessing you would get 800mm between centres absolute max maybe

Originally Posted by dai sensei

Ok got some dimensions back from his wife:
Overall size of lathe 1.6m long x 0.5m high (not including stand)
Swing - centre 230mm above bed
Bed - overall 900mm so I'm guessing you would get 800mm between centres absolute max maybe

More like 600 nominal between centres. A tailstock is going to be at least 150mm long, more like 200.

If in excellent shape I'd say not much less than a new Chinese one, maybe a touch more. I'm willing to bet this machine is better made than a new budget level Chinese machine.

Tooling - need a list/photos of the tooling if possible. That's often where the money is - the tooling often exceeds the cost of the basic machine.

PDW

I'd say more or less $2000 (condition dependant) if there is the "Standard" Range of accessories, If there is extensive extras then a bit more. The accessories & tooling for a lathe or milling machine can run up more than the machine it self. What I'd consider standard is a 3 Jaw & 4 jaw chuck, face plate, basic set of tools (there is a box of light blue probably chinese ones in photo) maybe a steady. There is two Dial indicator stands used min $30 if top brands, but you need to show what else.

Assume standard accessories, any more is then a bonus for the buyer, I can't go back for photos for ages and just not worth it.

Yes the between centres is less than 800, I was trying to understand the name, that normally refers to bed in some way. Strange that dimensions she has given me imply the lathe is not much bigger than my 920, but I had the impression it certainly was, and more solid. He turned many large steel items for me when I found it was beyond mine.

Originally Posted by dai sensei

Yes the between centres is less than 800, I was trying to understand the name, that normally refers to bed in some way. Strange that dimensions she has given me imply the lathe is not much bigger than my 920, but I had the impression it certainly was, and more solid. He turned many large steel items for me when I found it was beyond mine.

Maybe she knows enough about lathes to have suppied you with the "between centres" dimension? That would account for your impression that this is a bigger lathe.

Cheers, Vann.