Atlas/Craftsman 101.07301

[markwesti]

It's not a antique , I looked it up . It's only 85 years old . Antique is at least 100 years old . Some Atlas history , the first version of this machine came out in 1937 and was called a 101. 07300 . It had a 3/8-20 double lead cross slide lead screw . My machine is a 101. 07301 and also has the 3/8 screw , my thought is that Atlas was using up parts from 37' into 38' and that is how I came up with the date for my machine . Later machines have a Acme screw , none of the machines were dated from the factory . With this machine I also got a milling attachment and it also has the 3/8 screw .
When Atlas made these 6' inch machines the ones that went to Sears/Craftsman had Bronze bushings for the head stock spindle and they were tagged with a Craftsman badge . Atlas also made them with Timken head stock bearings and they were branded Atlas .
Over the years I have been adding stuff to it , I got a set of cast iron legs with original boards and the barrel switch and mount arm . And a collet set .
Atlas 6" history http://www.lathes.co.uk/atlas6inch/
Atlas tooling http://www.lathes.co.uk/atlas-6-inch-lathe-accessories/
History of Atlas http://www.lathes.co.uk/atlas/page13.html
My machine
IMG_1088 by mark westi, on Flickr
IMG_0834 by mark westi, on Flickr
A collet set .
collets by mark westi, on Flickr

 

[michiganbuck]

Likely get busted for being a hobby machine, but that is a very nice looking one.
A good lathe hand can do nice work on one.
Flat ways are not as durable or accurate as V ways. but easy to resurface by grinding of scraping.

 

[jim rozen]

An earlier version of this machine. Photo was taken in my kitchen hallway, somerville MA. Basically the 1932 version.

Atlas 9-inch lathe

Atlas 10-inch lathes from the first to last. Includes details of the British copies by Acorntools, Sphere and halifax

www.lathes.co.uk

 

[animal12]

Jim, why all the belts ? Was one of the belts for back gear only ?
animal

 

[JST]

Jim, why all the belts ? Was one of the belts for back gear only ?
animal

Yep, gearless back gear. Patented.

That machine (with the belts) is pretty much not useful for much. A friend has one, and uses it sometimes for stuff around his "farm". Works for him, but he is not at all demanding (I THINK he oils it, but am not sure..... that's how fussy he isn't)

 

[animal12]

thanks . Today all the belts would cost more then the lathe did new .
animal

 

[JST]

heh... not when corrected for inflation........

 

[john.k]

Takes us back to the day when the kid whose father had a little lathe in a back room was a king.

 

[animal12]

Yea & unfortunatly we bought all those machines a second time in the form of crap from china .
animal

 

[markwesti]

One thing about the Craftsman 6" 101 .07301 ( not to be confused with the Atlas 618 ) , the Craftsman has 3 point mounting feet for the table . This was actually a good thing , the engineers knew it was going to be mounted on a plank of wood and most likely going to be used by a beginner . 3 points to mount = no twist , the 3 point concept was used on military ships in their machine shops in the early days so I'm told .
Mark .

 

[Ries]

The happiest day of my life was the day I sold ma atlas lathe. My current lathe is over 3” spindle bore, 7.5 hp, and weighs more tha 3 tons. It does everything the atlas did, and a little bit more…