info on this lathe plz

[Piero]

Hi guys

Been offered this lathe (see pics)

Only I am wondering why it has a cut in the bed.

It doesn't appear to be a gap bed lathe

 

[Rig Pig]

Have you got any more photos or a make and model?

 

[Piero]

Smart and brown

me nor the seller knows the model

 

[jimmyspeed]

its a Model L - if you search google info will come up

the cut will be so that large faceplate on the right can be fitted

 

[brightspark]

its a Model L - if you search google info will come up

the cut will be so that large faceplate on the right can be fitted

i dont think so the faceplate will be 10 to 15mm thick that gap isnt and the faceplate would sit further back

 

[scott0031]

Not only that, its no use having a face plate in a slot if you cant use the full diameter, sort of nullifies the point of having a face plate of that diameter in the first place.

 

[Piero]

Just spoke to the seller.

He cut the bed so he could do something to motor bike discs

Best left well alone ???

 

[Rig Pig]

It's a plane lathe - no screw cutting or power feeds so not very useful as an 'only' lathe

 

[MattF]

Best left well alone ???

Yup. The bed strength will have suffered.

 

[ford34/2]

ts a Model L - if you search google info will come up

could well be the Smart and Brown Model L, not convinced when the chuck is removed and replaced with the face plate, that the large diam of the plate will drop into the cut out on the bed, maybe the owner trued up brake discs or some other over sized piece of steel, and when it was fastetened into the chuck, or on the face plate it ran in this groove.
Given the quality of Smart and Brown I think this groove is an owner after thought at solving a problem he had with the Diam of a piece that neeed turning.Very much doubt it came out the factory like this.
You will notice the top slide has a very long distance of travel, this helped the lack of total mechanical movement of the carriage. The carrige can be easily locked with the handscrew thing under the bed.
It will turn stuff, and should do it well, it served in many many quality workshops,even Toolrooms, if the lack of the carriage movement doesnt bother you and the chunk missing out the bed, and the price is cheap-- maybe well worth considering.
Stan.

http://www.lathes.co.uk/smartbrown/page3.html

 

[Piero]

I am very new to lathes.

it was with in my budget. That was the only reason I even looked at it.

But the cut in the bed is a big no no

I'd like a lathe with both metric and imp thread cutting ability

But what's something like that going to cost me

 

[scott0031]

A lot of those smaller S & B lathes were used as either first op simple component lathes and more generally second op lathes. Mostly used on materials like brass, they also tend to have higher rpm ranges suited to brass. That bed and headstock style is used on a few different models the only difference from memory is the saddle/ cross side arrangement. It's not a good general purpose lathe and you will soon find it very restricting.

With that bit of handy craft applied to the bed............... yes stay away lol

 

[jimmyspeed]

didn't think about the faceplate being set back with the chuck gone, buts its definetly a model L as i have one in the garage

 

[Rig Pig]

I am very new to lathes.

it was with in my budget. That was the only reason I even looked at it.

But the cut in the bed is a big no no

I'd like a lathe with both metric and imp thread cutting ability

But what's something like that going to cost me

My Smart & Brown Sable was £200, it's an imperial machine but with transposing gears it can cut most metric threads, it took a bit of hunting to find a decent machine for sensible money.

 

[roofman]

He would of put the brake dics in the chuck and expanded the jaws to grip with the dics in the groove....he would of given that lathe its death sentence and now fit for nowt

 

[ford34/2]

I`m afraid this lathe is a totalaly manual operated lathe, No headstock gears, no power to the carriage etc, and it wil definatly not cut threads either metric or imperial.
In todays market unless the discs are megga rare, they are hardy worth putting on a lathe and trying to get them true, if you dont get the disc set spot on and get it wrong boy will you know when you hit the pedal.

Sorry for bad news.
Stan

 

[Piero]

I didn't buy it

I was only looking at it to see if it fitted my bill

 

[ukracer]

I didn't buy it

I was only looking at it to see if it fitted my bill

how much did he want for it??

 

[Piero]

You will laugh.
Before I knew of the cut bed. I saw it advertise at £575

I did try to tell them with the cut in the bed it was worth little more than scrap weight

They always think they have something worth thousands

 

[brightspark]

anyone with half an ounce of sense wouldnt touch that lathe with a barge pole. having said that theres plenty of fools or people that havent a clue would buy it and as for the guy that did it i wouldnt fancy buying anthing off him that he had touched or midified