Myers Machine Tool Co. 10" X 36" Lathe

[Sphere]

I picked this up last week and burned through my last few "Old Iron Dollars". The pictures were taken by the previous owner while it was still setup in his shop. I'll post better pictures in the images forum (after cleanup), and link back here as good pictures of these are hard to find.

Specs:

5 1/2" center height
36" between centers
5 1/2' bed length
Powered cross feed
1 HP GE motor and drum switch (currently wired for 110v)
8" 4 jaw independent chuck

Pictures:

Apron Detail
Chuck
Full View
Headstock and countershaft (Image is a bit skewed)
Myers Machine Tool Co. Logo
Motor and Countershaft
Tailstock
View from Tailstock end

I did some research to try and find some information regarding the Myers Machine Tool Co:

This machine belonged to the PO's father in-law (who recently passed at 101 years of age.) He thinks he acquired it from a mill in S. Berwick Maine.
From what I understand, they aren't listed in Ken Cope's book (I don't have a copy yet.)
The "Industrial directory of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania" vol's 1, 2, and 3 list them as a supplier of Lathes and Presses in Columbia PA. between (at least) 1913, and 1920. Volume 4 hasn't been scanned, so I don't have access to it.
The Smithsonian has one of their catalogs, but it isn't available online, and I don't have access to their library. If anyone here does have access, and has an interest in researching this manufacturer, I can post the catalog information etc.

As for the condition, it's quite a bit better than it looks, but has some issues:

There was a lot of sticky oil and some sort of "never-seize " type stuff in all of the key places.
I can't find a "neutral" for the cross feed, and it drags a bit when not fully engaged.
One gib screw on the top slide is snapped off flush The top slide appears to have had a heated argument with a chuck at some point while backside parting, and lost. Fortunately, it wasn't this chuck as it's in pretty good shape.
The smaller backgear is missing 3 teeth, and the large spindle gear is missing one. The larger gear on the end of the lead screw is missing a tooth or two, and there were only two change gears. The bronze spindle gear is fairly worn too.
The tumble reverse handle is missing the "spoon" and pin lock setup for fwd-neutral-rev.
There is some of the normal way damage near the chuck. Some hand scraping is still visible on the V ways at the tailstock end.
I haven't pulled the spindle yet to look at the bearings, but the PO ran it when I was looking at it and it was fairly smooth.

I'm planning on tearing down, measuring, cleaning, painting, repairing, and tooling it up for light use in my shop. I have a few milk crates of tooling that came with it (lots of interesting tool holders, tapered shank drills, taper adapters, HSS, etc.)

I'll have to fab up a steady and a follower (there are threaded holes for a follower on the saddle casting.)

Comments questions and advice welcomed and encouraged.

Wade

Edit: Southbend34, do you still have the scrapper Myers? I'll be looking for a few bits and pieces (tumble handle for instance..)

[SouthBendModel34]

Yes, I still have the junker Myers ! Some of its pieces are already spoken for, but I think I can yet sell you some pieces you need. I cannot, however, help you with change gears nor the "larger gear on the end of the leadscrew".

Please STUDY the photos I posted. I did my level best to take well-thought-out "mug shots" showing what I thought would be the identifying features. In doing so, I believe a captured a good record of my machine's condition and present/absent parts.

QUESTION 1: Are there any digits cast into the top slide casting ???
(Mine says P17.)

QUESTION 2: What are the spindle thread dia. & pitch? The chuck is stuck solid on mine.
(Possibly from the crash)

Since I've not yet taken mine apart, I would be interested to hear about any tips you may have about dismantling a Myers. In particular, if you find any tapered through-pins, be sure to document which direction you drove them out !

Two of your photo links actually point to the same photo. The link to the Myers logo is actually a second link to the headstock & countershaft photo. (I believe you can edit this.)

Myers was apparently a minor lathe maker. Only about five people on PM have mentioned owning specimins of Myers. The feature I find most interesting is the unusual arrangement of the tumble reverse. The reverse gears are inboard of the left headstock spindle bearing, while the lever is outboard. AFAIK, This is different from any other lathe maker's arrangement. (The Seneca Falls is close, but its reverse lever works in a slot in the headstock. The Myers' reverse lever is truly to the left outside of the headstock.)

Best Regards, John Ruth

[George Andreasen]

First of all, nice save! The only advice I can offer is that your crossfeed problem may be related to some of that "never sieze" or maybe just hard old oil....worse than glue at times.

[Sphere]

Sorry about the makers logo shot. A just fixed it. I think that logo will clean up nicely. Looks like it just has remnants of the many, many paint jobs crusting it up.

Thanks George. The PO was glad to hear that it would get a nice dry home and some tlc. I'm getting real familiar with that old oil you speak of. I used some mineral spirits on the stuff I cleaned so far, and it still takes a lot of scrubbing with a nylon knuckle brush.

SB, I'll post detailed measurements of everything of interest. My chuck was on a 4 stud backplate and came off fairly easily with a few taps from a rubber hammer after I took the nuts off. I haven't taken a stab at the backplate itself yet, so I don't know what the spindle threads/diameter are. There are pipe wrench marks on it, so it could be on there pretty tight. It does look like that's been gobbed up with that silver compound though... I took a quick look at the top slide, and didn't see anything for numbers, but I'll take a much better look when I get to cleaning it up. I did notice "1160" stamped between the V ways at the tailstock end.... Does yours have a S/N there? I'll go dig through your post this evening and have another look.

The stuff of interest would be headstock covers, tumbler handle, and any back-gearing that hasn't grenaded already from the "Clap of Doom". I can probably fab suitable replacements for most of that stuff but it would be nice to have originals if they are the same.

I'm going to look into replacements from Boston Gear for the common sized change/spur gears. I'm afraid to look at the price lists though

[Finegrain]

Originally Posted by Sphere

The smaller backgear is missing 3 teeth, and the large spindle gear is missing one. The larger gear on the end of the lead screw is missing a tooth or two, and there were only two change gears. The bronze spindle gear is fairly worn too.

I can help you with any of the gears. Send me a PM or e-mail.

Regards.

Finegrain

[SouthBendModel34]

Sphere,

You probably already know that the change gears on an old conehead lathe are very likely to have a 14.5 degree pressure angle (PA) rather than the 20 degree PA which is common on more recent machines.

The mark cast into my compound is plainly visible right on the top. If you cannot see it right away, then perhaps yours is from a different pattern.

Keep us posted on your adventures with this lathe. Other than the headstock covers, I have at least some of the parts you need, for sure. I really need to get down to the back of the garage and look at that beast closely. I never did find a s/n, but now thanks to you I know exactly where to look.

John Ruth

[SouthBendModel34]

Sphere,

Sort of "for the record" - in addition to the badge pinned to the right leg, is the Myers name CAST INTO the ends of the legs, possibly the crossbar?

This is to confirm a report that the Myers name was cast into the legs. Same report said the name was cast into the hinged cover for the change gears, but since neither you nor I have that piece, I don't expect you can confirm it.

My interest in the identifying marks is that my Myers does not have legs nor a change gear cover, so it went unidentified for months.

As I said, please keep us posted about your adventures with your Myers. especially dismantling problems encountered and solved. For my part, I will effort the parting-out of my Myers and sell the bits very reasonably.

Bugs me to junk the bed, which shows little sign of wear.

John Ruth

[Sphere]

Originally Posted by Finegrain

I can help you with any of the gears. Send me a PM or e-mail.

Regards.

Finegrain

Thanks Finegrain. I absolutely will. It may be a little while before I get back to you as I'm at the tail end of a bunch of projects, but the spindle gear and backgear repairs/replacements are pretty high on the priority list.

John, the Myers Machine Tool Co. logo shows up on the gear chart (on the left leg), the badge (on the right leg), and the name is cast into both legs on the arch.
Fabricating a gear cover had crossed my mind although I don't see any obvious mounting points for one. If you come across a photo... Thanks in advance for the parts digging. Drop me a PM when you get it parted.

Speaking of photos, I saw another Myers for sale on CL and saved the pictures. They are small and grainy, but show an interesting looking countershaft setup as well as the steady and follower rests.





I did manage to find time to run a basket load through the parts washer yesterday, so I am making a little progress. I still have to run out to get a replacement usb cable and batteries for the camera, so no more pics yet.

[Sphere]

Still doing a little poking into the company history.

I just found a reference to the Myers Machine Tool Company charter in the "Alphabetical List of Charters of Corporations....1911 - 1913" for Pennsylvania. Page 106.

"Myers Machine Tool Company - Colombia. PA. October 23 1913.
Capital $50,000. Operating a foundry and general machine shop and manufacturing and selling iron and steel machine tools and machinery, castings, and other articles and devices from metals."

In addition to the 28 page catalog at the Smithsonian, the Hagley Museum & Library has a copy of "Machine tools suitable for automobile repair shops and garages." Columbia, Pa. : Myers Machine Tools Co., [1916] 19 pages with a discount price list.

The plot also thickens with references to "Hershey Machine and Foundry Co v. Myers Machine Tool Co. Receivership" in the 1923 Lancaster Law Review Vol. 38. (snippet only.)

The latest references I've found to the company so far are in various supplier and trade catalogs for 1924.