Antique Treadle Lathe - Info Request

[Tom De Winter]

Our Club has been tasked with restoring this old lathe to working condition. It will be used and displayed in the Pioneer Village in a county park. We do a couple of turning demos at events there every year.
Our goal is to make it useable without destroying the patina developed over decades.

The square head bolts and nuts appear to be hand forged and some are missing. Many of the square heads are a different dimension in the x-axis vs the y-axis as if the size was eyeball measured to be close.
There are a couple of 4" dado's cut in the vertical outside surface of the bed beams. We have no idea what was mounted there.
There are two pulley sizes on the spindle shaft and the lower flywheel to yield a high and low speed. However, the required belt length is 6" shorter for one vs the other. There is no provision for tensioning the belt. (Perhaps that is what mounted in the above mentioned dado's?)
The only markings we can find is a 3 digit number boldly cast in the big wing-nut locking the tailstock to the bed.

We are hoping to learn:

• Manufacturer name and info
• Approximate Date produced
• Belt tensioning or speed change info
• Anything else about this lathe specifically or treadle lathes in general

All help will be appreciated.

WWWWWW

 

[robo hippy]

Looks like a fun project, but I have no clue to this lathe. Not sure if you can get in touch with Roy Underhill or not any more. The Williamsburg village that does every thing with time period tools may be of some help. I know there are many 'antique' tool sites that specialize about this type of stuff.

robo hippy

 

[Frank English]

What about the OWWM site?

 

[Richard Coers]

Someone in your club know how to pour babbit bearings? My first impression was likely privately made, but since castings are involved there had to be a manufacturer. Almost always castings had identification on them. If none, it still could have been made by a pattern maker who had casting connections.

 

[Gerald Lawrence]

As to belts I am pretty sure you can still get the old leather belts made.

Did a google search for Leather belts for old machinery and there are lots of them.

Hudson Belting

 

[Ed Jarvis]

On my 1859 lathe the bolts were wentworth

 

[Gary Beasley]

Vintagemachinery.org is another possible source of info.

 

[Tom De Winter]

Thanks to everyone for your replies. I haven’t disappeared after starting this topic. But I have moved to my winter home in Yuma, AZ so I’m not actively involved in the restoration. I am passing on any info I receive to those who are. I’ll return to IL in April.

 

[Brent@TurnRobust]

The wooden pulley on the spindle may have been a later shop built addition, as it does have a cast smaller pulley. That may be why your belt length doesn't work out. I do see holes in the belt, and perhaps those were used to adjust the length? I'd just set it up for one speed and leave it alone. You'll mostly be turning smaller stuff to demo with is my guess, which would bias you towards the high speed range. As to the maker, that may be hard to pin down. There were a lot of manufacturers in the "old days". Others have mentioned some of the vintage machinery sites, and I also encourage you to post your pictures there. My WAG on the date is mid 1800's. It's a nice piece, and I am glad to learn you're interested in maintaining the patina. Antique woodworking equipment does not have a lot of value, unfortunately, but antiques in general are worth more, and are more interesting, with their original surfaces intact. Please be sure to oil the spindle each time you use it. Just some regular 30 or 40 weight oil is probably fine. You can still source square head bolts and nuts from McMaster-Carr. If they're plated, have somebody burn off the plating with a propane torch (outside of course, with the wind behind you). Get some cold bluing from a gunsmith supply house to blacken them afterwards. They'll match the old look close enough. Good luck with your project!

 

[Barry Larson]

Our Club has been tasked with restoring this old lathe to working condition. It will be used and displayed in the Pioneer Village in a county park. We do a couple of turning demos at events there every year.
Our goal is to make it useable without destroying the patina developed over decades.

The square head bolts and nuts appear to be hand forged and some are missing. Many of the square heads are a different dimension in the x-axis vs the y-axis as if the size was eyeball measured to be close.
There are a couple of 4" dado's cut in the vertical outside surface of the bed beams. We have no idea what was mounted there.
There are two pulley sizes on the spindle shaft and the lower flywheel to yield a high and low speed. However, the required belt length is 6" shorter for one vs the other. There is no provision for tensioning the belt. (Perhaps that is what mounted in the above mentioned dado's?)
The only markings we can find is a 3 digit number boldly cast in the big wing-nut locking the tailstock to the bed.

We are hoping to learn:

• Manufacturer name and info
• Approximate Date produced
• Belt tensioning or speed change info
• Anything else about this lathe specifically or treadle lathes in general

All help will be appreciated.

View attachment 58480WWWView attachment 58481WWWView attachment 58482

Hi Tom:
For the replacement fasteners you might try Blacksmith Bolt and Rivet Supply

Blacksmith Bolt & Rivet Supply

The supplier of choice for specialty fasteners in the Blacksmithing, Metalworking and Woodworking communities. In Portland, Oregon since 2007.

blacksmithbolt.com

They specialize in old fashioned fasteners of all types, including square head and carriage bolts.

Cheers.
Barry W. Larson
Calgary, Alberta, Canada eh!

 

[Tom De Winter]

I've passed all comments on to the guys back home doing the restoration.

Here's some pictures of the work in progress.

Turning a point on the headstock spindle.
Milling the spurs

 

[Tom De Winter]

Turning a point on the formerly blunt tailstock center.

 

[Tom De Winter]

Headstock main bearing, Babbitt in decent condition.

Headstock back end bearing re-machined with added brass. This was originally steel on steel.

Tailstock internal parts.

Tailstock with internal parts removed.