Unknown Lathe ID

Horsepower Zone · Apr 1, 2022

Hi Guys,

Any idea someone could identify this lathe for me please. I just bought it and would love to know more about it.

Its around 1700mm long (rough guess)

Many thanks

Adrian

Bill D · Apr 2, 2022

I notice the leadscrew sticks way out on the right. looks like no motor in the pedestal.
Bill D

Horsepower Zone · Apr 2, 2022

Thanks for response mate,
No, the motor is at the rear lower, ill see i i can post a pic.
What do you mean about the lead screw?
Cheers

https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/wmkAAOSwA15iLDt4/s-l800.webp

john.k · Apr 2, 2022

It has some Colchester features....its maybe a 1930s Colchester or an Oz made lathe with copied features.

technocrat · Apr 2, 2022

john.k said:
It has some Colchester features....its maybe a 1930s Colchester or an Oz made lathe with copied features.

The metric thread chart is a bit weird for Oz made in that era, we only had fractions of inches back then :-)

Horsepower Zone · Apr 2, 2022

Ive been going though pics of old lathes and its remarkably similar to the southbend heavy 10. The motor is in a different position but everything else looks very smilar

technocrat · Apr 2, 2022

Horsepower Zone said:
Ive been going though pics of old lathes and its remarkably similar to the southbend heavy 10. The motor is in a different position but everything else looks very smilar View attachment 346250

the wheel positions are opposite on the two lathes. This is the same as left hand drive / right hand drive, ie american / english pattern.

The quick change gearbox arrangement is also very different and may be the unique id to find.

I think your motor has been added later. It looks like a line shaft machine and the motor has been attached to the back gear mounts later and a cover fabricated "recently", though hard to tell from pics available.

Horsepower Zone · Apr 2, 2022

technocrat said:
the wheel positions are opposite on the two lathes. This is the same as left hand drive / right hand drive, ie american / english pattern.

The quick change gearbox arrangement is also very different and may be the unique id to find.

I think your motor has been added later. It looks like a line shaft machine and the motor has been attached to the back gear mounts later and a cover fabricated "recently", though hard to tell from pics available.

When I pick the lathe up next week I'll get some more info but good observations.

Tyrone Shoelaces · Apr 2, 2022

john.k said:
It has some Colchester features....its maybe a 1930s Colchester or an Oz made lathe with copied features.

That was my first impression when I saw the photo.

Regards Tyrone.

Horsepower Zone · Apr 2, 2022

Thank you for all the responses.
I found the exact match, it's a Purcell Visby lathe. I actually managed to track it down by some of the comments here. I searched for Australian and English lathes. First one is an exact match
Purcell Lathes, Visby, New Visby, Conemaster & Record lathes

Limy Sami · Apr 2, 2022

I think / feel in me water it's possibly German - lotta German stuff of that era on Lathes Lathes + Machine Tool Archive

technocrat · Apr 2, 2022

It does look like a Colchester, but the selector to the left of the quick change is in line with the qc box. On every colchester I have seen, it was higher on the headstock, and thus on a different shaft. It looks like a colchester selection lever, but in the wrong place.

Jim Christie · Apr 2, 2022

I think there may be one or more threads on this forum with similar lathes from Australia .
As mentioned by Limy Sami I think there is a German connection .
The tumbler reverse lever for the leadscrew is inside the headstock being a characteristic of many of those.
Try a forum Search for Erlich ,Fisher or IXL and see if you get a close match .
Some models may vary over time with or without quick change.
See also these from Tony's site ,
Fischer Lathes
Oscar Ehrlich Lathes
IXL Leader (Ehrlich) Lathes
Jim

Bill D · Apr 2, 2022

What do you mean about the lead screw?

Just that the long extension of the leadscrew to the right of the support may be distinctive to that make. I suppose it may have even had a switch or handle there at one time.
Bill D
https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/wmkAAOSwA15iLDt4/s-l800.webp[/QUOTE]

Limy Sami · Apr 2, 2022

Bill D said:
What do you mean about the lead screw?

Just that the long extension of the leadscrew to the right of the support may be distinctive to that make. I suppose it may have even had a switch or handle there at one time.
Bill D
https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/wmkAAOSwA15iLDt4/s-l800.webp

[/QUOTE]

Isn't that the feed shaft rather than LS??

Bill D · Apr 2, 2022

Isn't that the feed shaft rather than LS??[/QUOTE]

Very well could be. Either way to me it is odd that it sticks out so far beyond the bed.
Bill D

john.k · Apr 2, 2022

When you pick it up,be sure to get the gap piece for the bed ,and the two steadies .......IMHO,unknown maker old lathes without gap piece are scrap.

Limy Sami · Apr 3, 2022

john.k said:
When you pick it up,be sure to get the gap piece for the bed ,and the two steadies .......IMHO,unknown maker old lathes without gap piece are scrap.

Very good point, .............if those parts are missing the value plummets.

Peter S · Apr 3, 2022

Trying to identify old lathes is a tricky business. They might share broadly similar designs, but differ in the details.

For example, I don't think any Colchester or Southbend look like this lathe in their details.

I had a look through my photos (mainly of old lathes sold in NZ) and the closest match I can find is an Australian lathe - the Purcell Visby.

But - why doesn't it have the name on the door, as other Purcell-made lathes seem to have?

EDIT note: just noticed, the 1920's photo below (from Tony's website) doesn't have any name on its door either.

I reckon our Aussie members will know more about Purcell?

I have attached photos of a "Visby", a "New Visby" and a Record, a larger lathe made by Purcell. The Visby and Record were both for sale in NZ.

BTW, notice the extended feed shaft on all these lathes. I don't know why.

Purcell Lathes, Visby, New Visby, Conemaster & Record lathes

Horsepower Zone · Apr 4, 2022

gday john,
Picked it up today and got the bit you are talking about

Unknown Lathe ID

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