turning lathe

Lathe, wooden frame, late 18th century. Collection of turning tools, late 18th century

The use of treadle and flywheel to give continuous rotation in the same direction was introduced in the fifteenth century, but the pole lathe remained more common until the end of the eighteenth century. This lathe has a wooden bed and a headstock with taper bearing for the mandrel. The flywheel is made from a single piece of timber.