This came out on a school auction wondering if anyone can tell me anything about this machine?
-
May 2025 Turning Challenge: Long Neck Hollowform! (click here for details) -
Congratulations to Phil Hamel winner of the April 2025 Turning Challenge (click here for details) -
Congratulations to Maggie Shapiro for "My 2nd Basket Illusion" being selected as Turning of the Week for 26 May, 2025 (click here for details) -
Welcome new registering member. Your username must be your real First and Last name (for example: John Doe). "Screen names" and "handles" are not allowed and your registration will be deleted if you don't use your real name. Also, do not use all caps nor all lower case.
rockwell 46-499
- Thread starter Larry Whittaker
- Start date
Does it look like the Delta 46-450?
46-450 it is. Probably a late 1960s to early 1970s version judging from the serial number.
You're covered.
Shortest quickest way to good information on that lathe: Go over to OWWM.org and in the search box put: Delta HD lathe 46-450
Get popcorn. Its a popular lathe. I've rebuilt several over the years.
You're covered.
Shortest quickest way to good information on that lathe: Go over to OWWM.org and in the search box put: Delta HD lathe 46-450
Get popcorn. Its a popular lathe. I've rebuilt several over the years.
Last edited:
PS The later iteration of that lathe from Delta was called 46-612 (single phase version). List price in 1998 was $4012.00
Sit down before adjusting that for today's inflation.
Sit down before adjusting that for today's inflation.
I had a 46-450 for 3-4 years. It is a reeves drive lathe, there were two version of the reeves drive, one with cables, and one with gears. I had the cable version. That one looks reasonably complete in the picture - the indexing pin is there, and also has the protective shroud. The picture is of the back of the machine, so can't tell some other details. Pretty good lathe for it's day. 12" swing, at least 36" between centers. Heavy as well. Moving it was accomplished by removing the ways and headstock as one assembly and the cabinet as another. They came with any number of power/motor options single and three phase, usually 3/4 to 1HP. Mine was 3ph, and with the addition of a Teco VFD it would go anywhere from 1-2rpm up to 3000 or so.
It also has the provision for outboard turning using left hand threaded faceplate. Parts are reasonably available - I redid all the bearings in mine and ran it for a few years. There are schematics available on Vintage Machinery, and I second looking around at OWWM, a number of folks there have documented similar lathes - I have a post there about getting mine up an running.
It also has the provision for outboard turning using left hand threaded faceplate. Parts are reasonably available - I redid all the bearings in mine and ran it for a few years. There are schematics available on Vintage Machinery, and I second looking around at OWWM, a number of folks there have documented similar lathes - I have a post there about getting mine up an running.
Does that model have the reeves drive in the cabinet? My first lathe was a lighter version Delta and had the drive in the cabinet. The cabinet amplified the noise and sounded like a base drum when you changed speeds. My next lathe was a Oneway and my jaw dropped when I first turned it on. Nearly dead silent compared to the Delta.
I guess the big question to Larry is did you get it?