Peroni
Cast Iron
- Joined
- May 18, 2007
- Location
- Yadkinville, NC
Well after missing out on 3 machines earlier this spring my patience was rewarded with this beauty. I've been after one of these 18 speed gear heads for several years now but was holding out for an exceptionally nice one. Dispatched from the Hendey works on May 20th 1953 this lathe was purchased by the USAF and sent down south to Robins AFB in Georgia. It has seen very little use over the past 68yrs but during that time managed to migrate up the coast to the West Point metal shop under Spellman Hall. I picked it up there right after Memorial Day, the weather was cool and dry for the entire 1300 mile round trip. Loading went smoothly with the onsite rigging company having built a substantial skid for the lathe.
12hrs later I arrived back home in central NC. The ride was uneventful and the lathe remained firmly in place despite the horrendous road conditions. Next morning I fired up the ole John Deere 500C backhoe that my dad bought second hand in 1986 for his construction business. With over 30000hrs on it it's getting tired and I wasn't 100% certain that it would lift this nearly 6000lb Hendey. After some thoughtful rigging all doubts were disproved when the lathe was lifted off first try - nothing truly runs like a Deere!
After careful maneuvering in some tight quarters I had the Hendey moved into its new home.
It so happens that I finally got the Hendey Tool & Gage lathe purcahsed last summer operational. It's first job was to make some leveling feet for its big brother. After being carefully lowered onto the new feet I spent several hours with many rags and a gallon of mineral spirits cleaning off years of oil, dirt and shavings. The lathe has been repainted twice in the past, each time being pretty well done. The original color was a dark green, then a light gray and lastly dark machinery gray. I will probably strip and repaint it at some point down the road but for now I think it cleaned up pretty nice.
Overall the lathe is in nearly new condition. The ways look brand new, very little backlash in the screws and tailstock. Compound isn't all chewed up and nothing has been broken. Only damage noted is the knob on tailstock handle is bent slightly, an easy fix.
I do wish to find a couple things for this lathe. First off it was ordered with the low speed option vs the 1000rpm high speed option. I'd like to find a motor pulley and correct speed plate for it to convert up to the high speed option.
Next, the lathe was ordered with forward rotation only. I'm after the push button plate that features 3 buttons for Forward, Stop and Reverse. Am also going to need a reversing motor starter, 220V 3 phase for 7 1/2hp motor. Prefer a Westinghouse Life Line unit as the motor and other electrics are Westinghouse but really anything would work.
Lastly it would be nice to have the little quick withdraw handle for the cross slide.
12hrs later I arrived back home in central NC. The ride was uneventful and the lathe remained firmly in place despite the horrendous road conditions. Next morning I fired up the ole John Deere 500C backhoe that my dad bought second hand in 1986 for his construction business. With over 30000hrs on it it's getting tired and I wasn't 100% certain that it would lift this nearly 6000lb Hendey. After some thoughtful rigging all doubts were disproved when the lathe was lifted off first try - nothing truly runs like a Deere!
After careful maneuvering in some tight quarters I had the Hendey moved into its new home.
It so happens that I finally got the Hendey Tool & Gage lathe purcahsed last summer operational. It's first job was to make some leveling feet for its big brother. After being carefully lowered onto the new feet I spent several hours with many rags and a gallon of mineral spirits cleaning off years of oil, dirt and shavings. The lathe has been repainted twice in the past, each time being pretty well done. The original color was a dark green, then a light gray and lastly dark machinery gray. I will probably strip and repaint it at some point down the road but for now I think it cleaned up pretty nice.
Overall the lathe is in nearly new condition. The ways look brand new, very little backlash in the screws and tailstock. Compound isn't all chewed up and nothing has been broken. Only damage noted is the knob on tailstock handle is bent slightly, an easy fix.
I do wish to find a couple things for this lathe. First off it was ordered with the low speed option vs the 1000rpm high speed option. I'd like to find a motor pulley and correct speed plate for it to convert up to the high speed option.
Next, the lathe was ordered with forward rotation only. I'm after the push button plate that features 3 buttons for Forward, Stop and Reverse. Am also going to need a reversing motor starter, 220V 3 phase for 7 1/2hp motor. Prefer a Westinghouse Life Line unit as the motor and other electrics are Westinghouse but really anything would work.
Lastly it would be nice to have the little quick withdraw handle for the cross slide.