Thread: Rivett 715

She is a beauty, nice and simple but well executed by the looks of it. Now will 33" fit across your surface plate?

Also it is a pity that you are missing the mains switch, that is going to be a hard one to replace. I know eaton will do custom one off cam switches to any switching spec you like but the are crappy looking plastic things..:S

The good thing is that you have a copy of the parts list/ manual. It helps a lot knowing what shape the parts should be.
As for missing parts, the three options seem to be

• make as close as possible to the original
• make for function but obviously different from the original (this is something done when adapting historic buildings for modern use)
• Stage a daring commando raid somewhere where there is a more complete 715 and steal the parts.

I know which one I think you should do as a first preference...

Michael

I think it is high time that Ewan fesses up how he manages to get so much shed time!!!!!!!!! some sort of time loop???? or black magic.

What a great find and opportunity to aquire the makings of another ''jewel in the crown''.You might have to paint it green to match the viewers eyes.In fact the ''tilt in my kilt'' has just subsided.Winning lotto ticket just been purchased.Couldn't have found a better home to a fine ambassador to the forum. Cheers. Am '' rivetted '' to my pull up chair now for progress.

Originally Posted by argeng

I think it is high time that Ewan fesses up how he manages to get so much shed time!!!!!!!!! some sort of time loop???? or black magic.

can only be one of two possibilities...swmbo has given up or he is single

Ew,

I think that the compound might be the correct one for your lathe. It is like the 608 compound, but then so was the one on the 715. You have probably had a look at tony's site about this. Don't be fussed that the image of the compound on his site is not exactly like what you have; it was wartime and I know some variations were shipped by Rivett. It seems that the only real problem is the spindle and bearings, and that is a worry. Unfortunately, all I have is a spare 608 spindle. Please keep us posted of progress.

-Michael

Hi Michael,
Just so i don't make a fool of myself, you are the lucky guy with the 2 608's aren't you?

I'm fairly certain its not the right slide unit. Other than the pics on Tony's site and the few other pics of 715's i've seen, there is also the serial #, which is 19 on the slide, my machine is 302. There is also the fact the slides have the gears for the cross slide travel, something the 715 would never need. It also does not register on the bed very well, and leaves only about 20mm swing over the compound. But...(always a but) since 302 is the earliest known serial # of a 715 it could well be very different from the latter ones.
The bearings seem to be ok, they are still full of grease and feel ok, i will soak them and find out. They are 7007's P4. The can still be bought new but are not cheap.
Some pics of the gears etc, plus the unusual way the compound nut is positioned. Sorry they are not the best, took them tonight and had to use the flash.

Cheers,
Ew

Originally Posted by eskimo

can only be one of two possibilities...swmbo has given up or he is single

Un?Fortunately its the first one......

Originally Posted by Ueee

Un?Fortunately its the first one......

Cast iron doesn't make a nice soft pillow and it gets mighty cold in the early hours.J.

Ew,

Sorry, I hadn't seen the saddle. Yes, looks like a 608 saddle and compound. The compound number 19 might or might not actually relate to 608 serial number 19. My 4NS has numbers thrown all over the place and few match the number stamped between the ways. There is, at least for me, a real puzzle of which numbers actually refer to the serial number. There is a very well documented 608, with original bill of sale, where the numbers on the bill of sale don't completely match the numbers on the bed. There is also the likelihood that in the rush to produce around WW2 to fill contracts, left over bits were thrown together to complete a lathe. I would not have been too surprised to find the 608 compound on a WW2 715, but the saddle for the 608 saddle makes it look more like another story. Wish you could get the whole history on this machine! Wonder where the 608 parts came into the picture? Another 608 in Australia??? Maybe there is even a 1020 here???!!

And yes, I am the nutter with two 608's, one a 4NS and one a 5C.

-Michael

Originally Posted by mmgarwood

Another 608 in Australia???

I expect there were (are?) some others. My first lathe was a Rivett 608 purchased mid-1970s IIRC from a dealer in Carlton (Sydney suburb). It was approx 1940 vintage (pyramid pedestals, fully polished surfaces). At the time I didn't really know much about it, but it was cheap because the bed was heavily worn and had been cannabilised, with nothing left but the headstock with back gears (drawbar and collets gone), tailstock, pyramid pedestals, bed with every removeable part gone, apron (stripped to the basics), cross slide and compound. The bed had been reground previously, and worn out again - so I had it reground for the second (?) time and fitted it up as best I could (without access to other machine tools) as a plain lathe. After all that use the headstock spindle (hardened steel with hardened steel plain bearings) still ran beautifully with wonderful smoothness and precision. Eventually I needed a lathe with screwcutting and feeds etc, so the Rivett was moved on to a local auto electrician.

The dealer said that my 608 was one of several used in one of the Defence services, and over time parts had been removed to keep the other machines complete. I managed to track down another Rivett owner who had been the foreman in the Physics workshop at the U of Sydney. I visited him at home and found a house full (literally) of immaculately preserved and restored machine tools, the small ones in glass cases, and among the larger ones a late model Rivett 608 in absolutely pristine condition, with a comprehensive array of attachments. It has to be somewhere - maybe you are the fortunate custodian.

Cheers,
Bill

Hit me with it, be daring, what colour should she be. I don't think i'm "manly" enough for light red though, so that rules that one out....The one i have seen a pic of that looks original is a dark blue-grey.

I'd also like to publicly thank Tom Hammond, another 715 owner from the USA, who has provided me with a stack of good quality photo's of his sliderest and spindle nose. He is also going to measure it all up for me. Thank you Tom

Cheers,
Ew

I can't comment on the colour, but when you do get the dimensions and photos and you decide to post 'em, I'll have a go at doing a working 3D CAD model if your interested.

-J

I managed to track down another Rivett owner who had been the foreman in the Physics workshop at the U of Sydney. I visited him at home and found a house full (literally) of immaculately preserved and restored machine tools, the small ones in glass cases, and among the larger ones a late model Rivett 608 in absolutely pristine condition, with a comprehensive array of attachments.

Bill,
I am not the owner of that 608 you saw. One of mine came from the U.K. and the other from the U.S.
However, I would sure like to get into contact with that fellow who had the nice late model. Do you still have a way of contacting him?
And whatever happened to your 608?
-Michael

you can send me a PM if you wish.