I think that it's most likely a gear cutting attachment. The hollow spindle holds the blank via a drawbar and tapered arbor. The vertical shaft must be fixed as it crosses axes with the rotating spindle so that's most likely a mount for a direct-indexing fixture. The gear is probably swappable with other lathe change-gears or it might be a handy integer like 48T. The 45 degree each way scale makes it handy for making bevel gears.

Can it be mounted 90-degrees rotated from it's present orientation?

Edited By Pete Rimmer on 25/09/2022 17:38:29

——————————————————–

Is it all there? I would maybe expect a worm wheel fitted to the vertical rod mating with the skew spur gear and then indexing plates. That is if it is an indexing attachment.

regards Martin

Vic, I didn't make clear that I was referring to the slide at the bottom of the attachment. The surprising feature for me is the small worm and wheel, is there a ratchet that operates it? I can't see a micrometer dial to indicate the amount of travel.

Bill

———

Hello Bill,

the worm and wheel are for power cross feed via the universal joint, because the leadscrew is inside the bed this is how von Pittler got around the problem. The machine also has a power circular feed using the same UV

here is a video of me testing it out Power cross-slide on the Pittler C3

Thanks, Vic. That's a lovely looking machine. I have a Britannia which must be a smilar vintage and shares some of the styling of the period and (before I painted it an inappropriate grey) a black finish. But a much less sophisticated machine, although it sounds similar when running.

Bill

The power cross-feed would be part and parcel of such use; but presumably also for plain turning. Though the universal-joints look rather close to their angular limits for consistent rotation: can their first shaft be set further back?

——————————

The universal joint still works at acute angles and is intended to be used near the headstock end of the lathe, it's long shaft has a keyway slot that locates in the inline gear wheel so can slide along to it's limit. there is also a short further extension as in the photo below which shows a gear fitted on the end of the cross-slide stem for ball turning

I see what you mean! It has a very gentle helix angle though, and is definitely not a regular worm-gear.

I looked at the drawing Michael's link opens, of Pittler's patent-application for a universal milling-machine. That is festooned with worm-drives, so it's feasible that Vic's lathe attachment gives the some similar functions. Although the patent drawing shows the worm-wheels are clearly that.

There is another detail about it. Outside of the gear is what looks like a locking detent that engages a hole faintly visible on the second photograph. There appears only one hole in the wheel, and the detent does not seem a quick-release type.

.

Vic – I reckon you'll have to carry out some careful experiments!

—————————————–

I will indeed!

The hole you mention is for oiling the spindle as it goes right through

however here is a rare type of drum type milling head I got with the machine, it has a stem that fits in the saddle casting in place of the cross-slide and is powered from an overhead drive.

It has a cross-slide and and rotation of the drum and it's cutter via top handle. It's cutter can be turned to any angle and runs via the worm and wheel mechanism. Not got the overhead pulley set up so not tried it yet.