Early Whitworth 6" lathe

Early Whitworth 6" lathe, complete with change wheels and contershaft

This 6-in workshop lathe made by Joseph Whitworth & Co will take work up to 39 in long. A four-speed cone, together with back-gearing, provides eight headstock speeds.

The controls for the saddle and tool slide are placed in the apron and include a lever for engaging a split nut with the lead-screw for screwcutting. Hand traversing is effected by a hand wheel and pinion which engages with a rack below the lathe bed. The cross-slide screw feed has a micrometer adjustment.

Both sliding and surfacing motions can be made self-acting by means of a drive taken from a slotted shaft at the back of the lathe bed. The shaft drives a worm wheel and a spur gear engaged with it, each of which drives a concentric cone, one connected with the traversing and the other with the surfacing motion. These cone clutches may be alternatively engaged by turning a handle at the front. This method of coupling, which was introduced by Shepherd, Hill 8 Co at the International Exhibition of 1862, can be adjusted to give way in the event of too heavy a cut being attempted, thus providing a factor of safety. The use of a separate driving shaft for the tool motions enables the lead-screw to be used for screwcutting only and preserves its accuracy.

Details

Category:
Hand and Machine Tools
Object Number:
1948-145
type:
lathes
credit:
George Wailes and Company Limited

Parts

Machine, with centre in mandrel and knife tool

Machine, with centre in mandrel and knife tool

Machine, with centre in mandrel and knife tool. Notes : 1. lacks knock -off gear; 2. rapid-traverse winch square broken; 3. lacks winch for top slide; 4. gear removed from tail of mandrel, but see /2

Object Number:
1948-145/1
type:
machines
15 gear wheels

15 gear wheels

15 gear wheels, 10 d.p., as follows : change wheels with cast teeth & bosses (Whitnorth pattern) of 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 85, 95, 100 & 127 teeth; change wheel of 127 cut teeth with no boss

Object Number:
1948-145/2
type:
wheel
Rapid traverse winch

Rapid traverse winch

Rapid traverse winch, pinned to broken square. Handle defective; wheel of 30 teeth from feed motion; wheel of 22 teeth probably from tail of mandrel

Object Number:
1948-145/3
type:
winch