Richard Roberts' Original slide lathe, with separate lathe screw nut and two hex bolts

Original slide lathe, with separate lathe screw nut and two hex bolts, by Richard Roberts, Manchester, Lancashire, England, 1817

Richard Roberts was a highly inventive engineer who had worked in London with Henry Maudslay, the finest machine builder of the day, before starting his own business in Manchester. The lathe here is typical of Roberts' thoughtful approach to machine construction and is designed for turning shafts and similar components. It is remarkable for the solidity of its construction which ensured accuracy under load. His contemporary James Nasmyth, inventor of the steam hammer, described him as 'one of the most capable men of his time' and 'one of the true pioneers of modern mechanical mechanism'.

Roberts was noted for his ability to solve mechanical problems, especially in the field of textile machinery. He invented a power-driven loom and a self-acting mule for spinning yarn. His firm built a wide range of machinery including machine tools and also pioneered standard gauges. Unfortunately, Roberts was not a good businessman, and his obituary in The Engineer in March 1864 noted that this prince among mechanicians  who contributed so largely to the wealth of the world  died in straitened circumstances, to the shame of the nation.

The lathe displayed here is now adapted for screw-cutting and is equipped with a back-gear, a two-step reduction in speed from the driven pulley to the mandrel that rotates the workpiece. This feature makes it particularly powerful although it is not clear whether this is original.