Reed-prentice

hambone · Jan 20, 2004

Looking for anybody who might know more about the company, and maybe where to find parts. I have a small shop in the cave, But sometimes it is easier to get some things done when you ask the advice of others that probably know more than you.

L Webb · Jan 20, 2004

Hambone, you didn't say what the machine is.
As for parts, good luck.
I have a Reed Prentice 16" sliding gear head lathe built in 1965 and I have been unable to find parts.

Les

lathefan · Jan 20, 2004

The company goes back to 1872 when it was A.F.Prentice & Co. F.E.Reed bought the company in 1877, the same year A.F.Prentice joined two other brothers to form Prentice Brothers Co. F.E.Reed retired in 1912 and the two companies merged to form Reed-Prentice Co. I visited the battleship North Carolina several years ago, and the shipboard machine shop had several Reed-Prentice lathes. I don't know were to get parts unless you buy another machine for parts. I'm attaching a photo of a Reed-Prentice that Yoder Machinery had listed a while back. Good luck.

[This message has been edited by lathefan (edited 01-20-2004).]

lathefan · Jan 20, 2004

Here's an old F.E.Reed advertisement.

[This message has been edited by lathefan (edited 01-20-2004).]

adammil1 · Jan 20, 2004

I was semi supprised that lathes.co.uk didn't have any info on these, but I can tell you they were made near me, in the city of Worcester. I was there yesterday, visiting my girlfriend and she took met to a book store. The place is in an old machine shop, and they have done a good job at keeping the city's machinery herritage alive. Some book shelves sit on old radial drills, there is a Reed Prentice inside, and a bunch of old Norton Grinders. All the machinery inside of this place is origional to the city of Worcester, and is reminant of the city's strong industrial past.

Adam

By the way the place is Tatnuk Booksellers if anyone is interested.

potteryking · Jan 20, 2004

I happen to have a reed-prentice like the one listed above for sale. It is in good condition and includes a hydraulic tracer. If anyone is interested email me at [email protected]
It was used to make dies for our factory that produced pottery.
GOOD CONDITION

matt_isserstedt · Jan 20, 2004

Adamil,

My old planer comes from Thayer, Houghton & Co, of Worcester, Mass.

It is very Victorian in terms of very elaborate castings.

Internet research shows that Thayer, Houghton & Co was destroyed in 1854 in the great Merrifield fire. The new business lasted until approx 1865...

http://www.rootsweb.com/~maworces/wohistbk/vol4-1.htm#h2

See link, click on "Hannibal Halen Houghton" and read the end of the large 2nd paragraph.

Needless to say I was quite surprised after doing the internet research. I guessed at 1930s vintage when I bought it, but ~150 years old is quite amazing.

I should be finished with it about 2007 given my current rate of progress.....8-(

[This message has been edited by matt_isserstedt (edited 01-20-2004).]

adammil1 · Jan 20, 2004

Matt,

Do you have any pictures of your shop or even that plainer? If I remember correctly you were the one who was going to pick up my old leblonde right? Too bad you didn't I'd have loved to see what some one dedicated to doing a full restoration could do. So how far have you come with your shop? How much old iron do you currently own? Weren't you talking about getting some big mill, and do you have it yet?

Adam

P.S. If you want to see mine I posted pictures in the pictures file.

[This message has been edited by adammil1 (edited 01-20-2004).]

matt_isserstedt · Jan 20, 2004

Adammil1,

I think you have me confused with someone else.

I recall giving you some advice about lubricants for a Clausing 4900 lathe awhile back.

As far as the shop pics (and planer) go, I am meaning to get a shop post going on the board in that section.

Here are some pics, although things have changed somewhat from those...

http://www.metalworking.com/DropBox/shop_left_side.jpg

http://www.metalworking.com/DropBox/shop_back_wall_4.jpg

http://www.metalworking.com/DropBox/shop_back_wall_2.jpg

http://www.metalworking.com/DropBox/shop_back_wall_3.jpg

I do have much more in my basement but that's not pictured...yet. I took a few film shots of the planer before disassembly and my scanner's kaput right now. Oh yeah and I haven't had a day off since Jan 2nd due to a plant changeover. So life's kinda on hold right now 8-)

[This message has been edited by matt_isserstedt (edited 01-20-2004).]

hambone · Jan 23, 2004

The lathe is a 14" with taper attach. It is a very good machine. I was just tickeled to find other people that had the same inteserst as me.

hambone · Jan 23, 2004

Just to you guys know a little about me. I have a 10" leblond regal that the company said was a 1932, a rong fu benchtop mill, a 1963 ciccinatti 205-12 hor. w/h.d. wert. head and over head crane. and a whole bunch of other old stuff. I have a old marvel power hacksaw#2. I would like to here back from you guys. Thank you Hambone

L Webb · Feb 6, 2004

I happened to find our missing Reed-Prentice lathe manual.
It was in a cabinet along with other missing manuals.

It looks like Reed-Prentice was aquired at some point by the Albion Corp which was then acquired by Saginaw Machine Systems.
The manual is in a Saginaw binder.

Anybody needing parts or a manual might try them.
http://www.saginawmachine.com/

Les

CBlair · Feb 6, 2004

Matt_isserstedt

If you see this would you please email me when you have time, I have a question to ask you that does not really apply to this forum.

Thanks

Charles Blair
Lawrenceville Ga
[email protected]

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