Garage Special Engine Lathe

[paulsomlo]

Saw this on FB Marketplace: https://www.facebook.com/groups/359...936031120864284/?sale_post_id=936031120864284

Here's some pics, in case the listing disappears:

 

[sfriedberg]

There was a period where it was fairly common for "adapted" lathes to have a small automotive 4-speed gearbox instead of a geared headstock. I seem to recall reading something about a glut of war surplus automotive parts contributing to this. On some of those machines, you can put them into reverse!

 

[paulsomlo]

On some of those machines, you can put them into reverse!

Whoa! Was that my chuck that just went by?

 

[Dobermann]

I'm really trying to see the point of this discussion. It's not a South Bend headstock. It's something else. Now what?

 

[paulsomlo]

I'm really trying to see the point of this discussion. It's not a South Bend headstock. It's something else. Now what?

There is no point - I posted it up because the "garage special" is somewhat rare and I thought the members here would find it interesting. And it's possible there is a South Bend headstock buried in there, somewhere.

 

[MrWhoopee]

It's a rare Tray Top Garage Special/Cincinnati hybrid,

 

[tonylathes]

Indeed, a strange lathe. The screwcutting chart looks to be a factory job yet, judging by the various fittings, it must be a "home-constructed" job. I've found this, but it's a very different lathe though it seems that its screwcutting chart has been used: https://www.hobby-machinist.com/thr...cial-engine-lathe-whos-the-manufacturer.3401/

 

[paulsomlo]

A few more pics before the listing disappears:

 

[old_dave]

The three inverted vee ways and the half-nut lever are South Bend- like.

David

 

[swells]

Well it's definitely a South Bend built lathe, sold by Sears as a "Garage Special" and has the original headstock. This 10-inch lathe was reintroduced in the early 1920's along with the 9 and 11-inch lathes. The "J" serial numbers you see are these first improved 2'nd gen lathes. This 10-inch lathe was based on the catalog number 19 "Special 10":

http://www.wswells.com/sn/sn_images/S1075_catalog_no19_special_10.jpg

and were first recorded with "S" serial numbers, could this be for "Sears"?
This model was an improved 1'st generation catalog number 26, 10-inch lathe that Sears sold as the "Expert".
The model 26 did not have a reverse shifter, the 2'nd generation model 19 did and had the 3/4 through hole spindle.
The 1'st generation 9-inch, model 24 was improved and became the 2'nd gen model 25.
The "J" lathes had power feeds: Model 25, 9-inch and model 27, 11-inch.
In an old SBL parts document the term "Junior" is used to describe these lathes, this is the earliest mention I've found of the later Junior series lower cost lathes.
The "S" lathes did not have power feeds: Improved model 26(model 19).
At this time point they also leased/purchased the Flather gearbox patent which they improved to what we know today as the South Bend/Norton style box. Replacing their 2-speed box through all size lathes by 1922 from the large lathes first, down to the 9-inch and omitting the 10-inch.
I'm not sure if I've ever seen a "garage special" with a gearbox.
Clearly the transmission drive has been added, but that was a common improvement in that time period.

 

[swells]

The serial number dates the lathe to late 1925 to early 1926.

 

[jim rozen]

I have that exact motor, it's a wagner repulsion start, induction run unit. Needs to have the brushes shifted to reverse it.