SIGforum
Antique lathe: worth restoring or not?
March 11, 2019, 10:51 AM
bald1Antique lathe: worth restoring or not?
Wondering what to do with it. Restore? Sell (absolutely no clue as to value)? Suggestions? Comments?
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USN (RET), COTEP #192
March 11, 2019, 10:57 AM
220-9erRestore it if it's something you want to keep for yourself.
I don't think it's something that's especially valuable so if you do restore and sell, your hourly wage will be a fraction of minimum wage.
Look it over carefully to see if there is any indication of brand or numbers then do a search.
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March 11, 2019, 10:59 AM
Jimbo54That looks like something PHPaul or GrumpyBiker would like to play with.

Jim
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March 11, 2019, 11:00 AM
RightwireMy grandfather had one similar to that in the workshop at his business. It and several other tools (band saw, table saw, planer) ran off a shaft driven by a single motor.
My dad ended up with all of it and restored all of the tools. They run great to this day. The lathe was a combination metal and wood and we did a lot of little projects before I moved out on my own.
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There are three types of mistakes; Those you learn from, those you suffer from, and those you don't survive. March 11, 2019, 11:00 AM
bald1I used it many many moons ago. It has sat in my parents house (Upstate NY) for decades and now that the house is up for sale this needs disposition.
Certifiable member of the gun toting, septuagenarian, bucket list workin', crazed retiree, bald is beautiful club!
USN (RET), COTEP #192
March 11, 2019, 11:07 AM
erj_pilotI'd restore it for nothing more than sentiment. I'm sure if you do restore it, you will have a sense of personal reward and pride.
"If you’re a leader, you lead the way. Not just on the easy ones; you take the tough ones too…” – MAJ Richard D. Winters (1918-2011), E Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne
"Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil... Therefore, as tongues of fire lick up straw and as dry grass sinks down in the flames, so their roots will decay and their flowers blow away like dust; for they have rejected the law of the Lord Almighty and spurned the word of the Holy One of Israel." - Isaiah 5:20,24 March 11, 2019, 11:08 AM
45 Calin a word No,I see no value other than scrap
March 11, 2019, 11:17 AM
PHPaulThat's a wood lathe, and a pretty basic one at that. Somewhat unusual due to age and the grinder attachment.
Would be an easy restore, if it has sentimental value, go for it.
I doubt it has much value otherwise.
Be careful when following the masses. Sometimes the M is silent.
March 11, 2019, 11:43 AM
CensoredThe base scares me.
March 11, 2019, 11:45 AM
SportshooterFresh bearings and a modern motor and it should do what a new would do. Maybe even better.

March 11, 2019, 11:48 AM
Mars_AttacksI have almost the same one.
I make my wands with it.
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Eeewwww, don't touch it!
Here, poke at it with this stick.
March 11, 2019, 12:51 PM
shovelheadThis might help at least to date the motor:https://www.mechanicalmusicpress.com/registry/motors/cpmotors.htm
Seems the company closed up in 1972.
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————————--Ignorance is a powerful tool if applied at the right time, even, usually, surpassing knowledge(E.J.Potter, A.K.A. The Michigan Madman)
March 11, 2019, 01:11 PM
shovelheadThe motor manufacturer had quite a history:http://www.coachbuilt.com/bui/t/thomas_chauncey/holtzer_electric.htm
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————————--Ignorance is a powerful tool if applied at the right time, even, usually, surpassing knowledge(E.J.Potter, A.K.A. The Michigan Madman)
March 11, 2019, 09:29 PM
bald1quote:
Originally posted by shovelhead:
This might help at least to date the motor:https://www.mechanicalmusicpress.com/registry/motors/cpmotors.htm
Thanks. Looks to be a 1929 vintage motor.

Certifiable member of the gun toting, septuagenarian, bucket list workin', crazed retiree, bald is beautiful club!
USN (RET), COTEP #192
March 11, 2019, 09:48 PM
arfmelThe motor is possibly the best part of the machine.

March 12, 2019, 09:54 AM
RinehartThat lathe looks decently clean. The ones with pattern-maker equipment can be really fun.
I'm no expert, but I've restored a number of vintage wood lathes and drill presses. Biggest critical thing I've found is to avoid any that have bent shafts or core assemblies. You can find replacements but it's hit or miss on ebay.
I've mentioned this before in other threads but back in the 1950's my dad had a leather shop. He got a 1938 era Wards Power-Kraft drill press that he used for many years. It moved into another business where it served until he passed. I grew up using this lathe.
In 2006 or so the building it was in was damaged in a hurricane and water dripped down and made the press damp which caused rust- here it is before-
Here it is after-
Only thing I painted was the motor and I masked off the brass ID plate. The rest was originally raw metal and it cleaned up nicely. Those original painted areas were done pretty darned well.
In cleaning things like this- bronze wool and oil works well for the delicate. I replaced all of the original bearings and one bushing. I found one broken piece in the motor speed control that I had to make but it was straightforward. New cord. (Always add a ground if not originally equipped).
Biggest thing I learned about doing old electric motors is whatever you do- when you are cleaning/scraping/brushing dust/dirt/debris/rust from electric motors, dissembled or not...
DO NOT blow compressed air into the armature/coils internals. Instead- vacuum material away with a brush head shop vac as much as possible. The reason for this is that much of that rust/metal debris is conductive and if you blow it into the winding/armature it will cause problems. As far as value- if you like it and you get it at a workable price, use it and enjoy it.
Good luck!
March 12, 2019, 11:25 AM
ritterI'm a sucker for old machines, especially if kept in the family. If you're up for a project, start by looking at the following:
http://owwm.org/http://vintagemachinery.org/If you're not up for a project, someone at the above may be interested in providing you with a little cash to take it off your hands, or may need parts.
The photos alone may inspire you.
New bearings can be had. If the motor runs, it is probably the best part of the package.
March 12, 2019, 11:30 AM
JellyThat lathe looks like an accident waiting to happen.
March 12, 2019, 11:45 AM
shiftyvtecIf not already aware, the grinder portion is not part of the original lathe assembly. They used a modern coupler to share power between the lathe and grinder.
As far as the lathe being dangerous, no more than any other wood lathe in my opinion.
March 12, 2019, 12:10 PM
David LeeIt would be nice for doing wood turning. Restore it and use it in your basement or garage. Needs a tail stock center. Some kind of Morse taper. Grinder will sharpen and shape your turning tools.