Decades ago I had the same problem on a Round Head 1000 rpm Student - the pillar was part of the top slide slidy bit. I actually made (in a fit of enthusiasm) an entire top slide which was in interesting task in it self, having to make the dovetail cutter to make the dove tails. It actually worked out pretty well.
The original top slide was quite beaten up so cosmetically it was a great improvement AND I ended up with a Dixon T2 tool post. The next job was to mass produce holders, which actually I still use with my present lather (Master 2500)
The original top slide was quite beaten up so cosmetically it was a great improvement AND I ended up with a Dixon T2 tool post. The next job was to mass produce holders, which actually I still use with my present lather (Master 2500)