Charles H Smith Lathe Philadelphia

I found this on Craigslist. It looks like it was built 1865-1870. It resembles a Worcester built lathe so I don't know if they built it or it was re tagged. All I could find on the company was wood working machinery.
Lathe - tools - by owner - sale

I'm pretty sure this is a rebadged Lathe & Morse Makers - possibly even Shepard, Lathe & Co

It is virtually identical to my S,L&Co.

To include:
"Moulded" bed full length (difficult to pull from drag/cope)
Rise & fall on a crank handle,
Weighted saddle
Right/Left worm in the apron to change carriage feed direction.
"Flat-Top" tailstock (with replacement hand knob - a common repair for the somewhat easily broken cast iron "T-handle."
Rear-mounted lead screw.
Shape of change gear "knobs" that hold them in place.
Shape of carriage feed knob
Shape of leg cross-stretcher, and where the webbing hits the leg relative to the cross-stretcher (fairly high)

The only feature I see "later" (leading me to Lathe & Morse MAKERS - 1864 to 1871) is the shape of the tailstock on the back-side of the box. Earlier (like mine) has no "ovolo" curve here - my tailstock box curves gracefully in an "S" between the taper slide and the lathe bed -- this one has an "ovalo with detent" shape. A little later and by 1874 L&M changed to their "shelf" modus. This one Middle range on type study.

It seems to have the remains of the original countershaft. Hangers are original(square shifter rod holes), probably also the cone pulley, probably NOT the single clutch which appears to be a later setup and does not utilize a shifter rod/handle in lieu of handle alone..

Best offer is hard to beat - well maybe if you REALLY want the legs to make your $1800 "industrial table."

I hope it goes to an interested home COMPLETE. Certainly among the 1000 oldest lathes extant in the country.

Joe in NH

I would say it is more likely the earlier S,L&M than the later one like mine. Mine does not have a weighted carriage.

The seller finally replied to my email and they said that they are no longer selling the lathe. Very strange.

enginebill said:

The seller finally replied to my email and they said that they are no longer selling the lathe. Very strange.

Click to expand...

My turn to say it.

The table will probably be from another seller on Craigslist tomorrow.

Followed by next day "lathe parts - no legs."

Sheesh.

Joe in NH

Looks like its in real nice shape for how old it is. Hopefully it will stay together. It might pop back up again when the second owner (view able in the second picture) passes away and the grand kids have no idea how to turn it on, let alone use it.
Ive answered several Craigslist ads that had the kids/grand kids cleaning out granddads garage. It makes me sad... but at the same time excited to acquire some more tooling and equipment. My standard questions are... What was his name?...Where did he work? After you get the stuff home you find his initials on hand tools.