Thread: hercus lathe

Hi all; I've got a 9 inch Hercus Model AU Craftsman Lathe. Can someone tell me what the U in Model AU stands for? I understand that the A means I have bearings in the headstock. Is this right? Does it mean anything else? Thanks for your time, Wayne.

http://www.lathes.co.uk/hercus/

Thanks Snocat. But I still did not see what the U meant. Anyother possible links? Wayne

I'm sitting here eating lunch, daydreaming and, suddenly: would the U stand for underslung because the motor etc. hangs below the headstock? Did I answer my own query? Thanks, Wayne

hm. How many Hercuses could there possibly be on Vancouver Island? Did you buy this from a guy in Victoria named Nigel? If so I tried your lathe once upon a time. Nice.

Dr. Rob: No, I bought this from the school in Tahsis. I also got another in my school here in Gold River. Wayne

Hercus A (aUstralian, down Under)? Labeled for import to North America?

Does yours look like anything on the lathes.co.uk site?

Jim

Hercus still exist and are located in Adelaide, South Australia. I have their ancient Hercus #9 Cylindrical grinder under the house and a friend has one of their bench lathes which he inherited from his father.

I order a copy of a manual from them for one of their machines a while ago.

Hi Jim: The lathe looks exactly like all those I've seen on this site. The one here at the school is an AR and except for where the motor is hung (at the back), the headstock, bed and tailstock all look the same. Wayne

Under drive?

bb

Wow, I am also on the island and own a Hercus! 260 ATM. Wayne I sent you a PM, please stop by on your way to anywhere. I'm in Courtenay.
Paul L
PS, I have a few extra chucks, steady rests if you are missing anything.

I made the effort to find additional information but it seems not to be of interest.

There are a few guys on this aussie forum that run Hercus lathes
http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com...splay.php?f=65

You could try asking there.

There's a Hercus (supposedly a 290) for sale at the moment on TradeMe (NZ) but the vendor couldn't remember the name: he listed it as a Herquis, and set a reserve of $1

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Business-fa...955591.htm?p=1

Despite the photo clearly showing an integrated quick-change gearbox, a prospective buyer felt moved to ask "Do you know if it can thread cut?" to which the vendor replied "yes i was told it could"

Damn it would be good to find a manual lathe which could screwcut on its own initiative, using its innate cunning...

(sorry for the sardonic tone, I just find it hard to be silent when so many nice machines are becoming bench ballast)