New to me old LeBlond Rapid Production Shorty

**SScott** · 03-01-2021, 11:13 AM

Good morning and thank you for having me. I just bought this and wanted to share. If you have any information on it such as the chuck so I can get a 3 jaw I would be very grateful. The plan is to restore it and use it at home in a confined space. I think I have some information on it but if I am wrong please correct me. I have an email in to LeBlond to see if they would offer any information.

Serial # is: 13RP626

I was told it is an 8" Swing. It is 3 phase 220V with a 3HP motor. I have zero idea what that air thing on the back of it is. I also do not know what the tailstock is. I will get some specs and measurements when the truck arrives.

Here are some pics:

**johnoder** · 03-01-2021, 02:01 PM

Its a 13 Heavy Duty RP and the "air thing" used to operate a collet system I suppose. The collet closer is the piece LARGER than the spindle nose threads

The 626 says it is from 1942

What ever chuck is put on HAS to fit whatever the spindle nose thread is (some long forgotten Le Blond size). This ordinarily means a back plate will have to be MADE (not bought) to fit the spindle nose before any chuck mounting will take place

I'll guess the tail stock is an add-on from some other make

**Limy Sami** · 03-01-2021, 02:20 PM

FYI http://vintagemachinery.org/pubs/2102/18035.pdf

& http://vintagemachinery.org/pubs/2102/18034.pdf

**SScott** · 03-01-2021, 02:52 PM

Thank you both very much!

**ncjeeper** · 03-01-2021, 08:41 PM

Cute little thing.

**Jim Christie** · 03-01-2021, 09:17 PM

There are some other threads with LeBlond Rapid Production Lathes shown in them on this forum .
Here is one, Any able to ID this LeBlond?
I think there was one several years ago that covered one being rebuilt to some extend but haven't found it so far.
Jim

**dundeeshopnut** · 03-01-2021, 11:35 PM

How do you cut threads with this one? It would seem a major handicap for a someone who wants a general purpose machine especially with almost no bed?

**JST** · 03-02-2021, 12:48 AM

Well, none of the feeds work out to any usable thread... a couple are "close". So single point threading is pretty much out.

No compound. The tailstock looks like it escaped from a Logan, or something similar. Not a great deal to recommend it.

It looks like it is heavily built. I'd think about something like it as a machine for heavy roughing, preparatory to finishing on a different lathe, or grinding.

As a machine to use as the only lathe? Less useful, actually MUCH less useful, but with functioning tailstock die holder setup, even threading could be done.

Not my first choice, nor second, nor third.... it could feed sized work to the Rivett 608..... but frankly, I don't have a lot of need for that. Not a good machine for making model locomotives, although I am sure it "can be done".

If it was the only lathe on the island, I'd use it.

**Doozer** · 03-03-2021, 03:58 PM

10" Atlas tailstock.

-Doozer

**garyphansen** · 03-03-2021, 06:43 PM

It was never meant to cut threads as it doesn't have half nuts that I can see. You could likely knock out that part that is in the spindle with a pipe through the hole in the left side of the head stock. Then the chuck might screw on if it was made for that lathe.

**cyanidekid** · 03-03-2021, 09:33 PM

Originally Posted by garyphansen

It was never meant to cut threads as it doesn't have half nuts that I can see.

well, of course it doesn't have half nuts, it doesn't have a LEAD SCREW!!! nothing for the half nuts to engage

**cyanidekid** · 03-03-2021, 09:38 PM

Originally Posted by JST

Well, none of the feeds work out to any usable thread... a couple are "close". So single point threading is pretty much out.

see above..

**SScott** · 03-04-2021, 01:49 AM

Thanks. I searched out something as small as possible with some grunt. The goal is to restore it to look and perform like new and as far as threading goes I have all the tooling needed for the barrels I do. I did not realize at first the tailstock was not original so I'm hoping that works out for me or that is a bust. I read above it is an Atlas (thank you) 10" but the lathe is a 13" so I assume it has a plate made to raise it. I will need to really make sure that is accurate. About the only other thing I plan (so far) to use it for other than gunsmithing is knocking out a ton of bronze bushings (really going to need that tailstock to work out). I will post pics of the restoration when I get that done as well as the VFD setup.

**Peter S** · 03-04-2021, 03:22 AM

SScott,

I would be concerned about the attached photo as it looks like severe wear on that front way.
Hopefully the photo is misleading and it will wipe off, but it looks bad.