Any other Barker lathe owners out there?

Advert

New Replies

Report Bug

Help/FAQs

Any other Barker lathe owners out there?

This topic has 21 replies, 13 voices, and was last updated 19 July 2022 at 19:57 by Joe Brown 1.

Viewing 22 posts - 1 through 22 (of 22 total)

Author

Posts
28 October 2009 at 08:22 #44554
John Coates
Participant
@johncoates48577
Hi

I have recently purchased a 1947 Barker 5″ x 24″ lathe. I am interested to locate and correspond with other owners to learn more about my lathe and what was standard (don’t think mine is) and what modifications can be done

So far I have looked at lathes.co.uk and there must be two or three others around judging by the photos in Tony’s article about the lathe (one of them is mine)

I got it because I need to do some fabrication for some motorcycle projects and thought it would be cheaper in the long run to learn how to use a lathe and make my own parts

Plus – once you’ve got a lathe and can use a lathe, you’ve always got a lathe in case something else comes along, right?

regards, John
Advert

28 October 2009 at 08:22 #4811
John Coates
Participant
@johncoates48577
New Barker lathe owner looking for contacts
3 November 2009 at 19:00 #44694
John Coates
Participant
@johncoates48577
Well there’s at least one other person out there with one

Thanks Pat – you’ve given me hope
7 May 2013 at 23:34 #118712
Mark Millward 1
Participant
@markmillward1
I have just got myself a nice one of these but am having problems working out the gearing from the belt drive through the gears. Would anyone have a workshop manual I could get a copy of or a scan etc . I have a suspicion it may not be all there.

Thanks Mark
7 May 2013 at 23:34 #118723
Mark Millward 1
Participant
@markmillward1
I have just got myself a nice one of these but am having problems working out the gearing from the belt drive through the gears. Would anyone have a workshop manual I could get a copy of or a scan etc . I have a suspicion it may not be all there.

Thanks Mark
8 May 2013 at 20:24 #118882
John Coates
Participant
@johncoates48577
Hi Mark

The change wheels should be: 20, 24, 32, 36, 38, 40, 44, 48, 48, 52, 54, 56, 60, 80 (note the two 48 wheels).

There should 8 speed wheels from 25 to 75 rising by 5's. There should be two large knurled spacers secured by grub screws to hold two speed wheels onto each shaft

I have spreadsheets for imperial and metric threads which I can send you if you drop me a personal message (PM)

They are very nice machines

John
8 May 2013 at 20:24 #118901
John Coates
Participant
@johncoates48577
Hi Mark

The change wheels should be: 20, 24, 32, 36, 38, 40, 44, 48, 48, 52, 54, 56, 60, 80 (note the two 48 wheels).

There should 8 speed wheels from 25 to 75 rising by 5's. There should be two large knurled spacers secured by grub screws to hold two speed wheels onto each shaft

I have spreadsheets for imperial and metric threads which I can send you if you drop me a personal message (PM)

They are very nice machines

John
8 May 2013 at 20:24 #118922
John Coates
Participant
@johncoates48577
Hi Mark

The change wheels should be: 20, 24, 32, 36, 38, 40, 44, 48, 48, 52, 54, 56, 60, 80 (note the two 48 wheels).

There should 8 speed wheels from 25 to 75 rising by 5's. There should be two large knurled spacers secured by grub screws to hold two speed wheels onto each shaft

I have spreadsheets for imperial and metric threads which I can send you if you drop me a personal message (PM)

They are very nice machines

John
26 October 2016 at 08:23 #263015
Ben Philpott
Participant
@benphilpott74496
Hi guys, sorry about bringing up a 3 year old post but I just purchased a barker lathe last night and other than lathes.co.uk and here, there appears to be no more info available on them, does anyone here have more info,manuals and so on? Also I’m pretty sure I dated mine to February 1947 but would like see if that was right, stamped 2470/420. Thankyou, Ben
26 October 2016 at 16:14 #263071
Lambton
Participant
@lambton
Ben,

Have a look at this site. **LINK**

Eric
26 October 2016 at 17:26 #263083
John Coates
Participant
@johncoates48577
Hi Ben

I know one other owner and the guy I bought my second Barker from. None of us have manuals. I have spread sheets for the screw cutting chart on the machine and also a metric chart with the error % for each thread. Just drop me a PM with your email address.

Anything else just ask

John
26 October 2016 at 17:30 #263087
Speedy Builder5
Participant
@speedybuilder5
Its interesting that you can swivel the headstock for taper turning. Why would this be seen as a better idea than using the top slide?
26 October 2016 at 17:50 #263088
NJH
Participant
@njh
At a guess it would be possible to produce a longer taper than would be possible using the top slide – of course the problem then would be supporting the end of the work.

Norman
26 October 2016 at 18:15 #263093
not done it yet
Participant
@notdoneityet
would this be seen as a better idea than using the top slide?

lathesdotco explain this. ''Under power' is nearly always better than hand feeding. Certainly easier!
26 October 2016 at 18:27 #263094
Bazyle
Participant
@bazyle
You can use a swivelled head for making tapered pipe threads ordishing the ends of bars to make them stand upright. I've seen instructions somewhere for doing this to ensure clock pillars sit square on the plates.

Since the Lathes site mentions selling one to Harrow school has anyone tried contacting them to see if they still have it and any supporting documentation?
9 June 2020 at 10:53 #478665
Paul Cheeseman 1
Participant
@paulcheeseman1
I’ve just bought a 5” Barker lathe which is fitted with a Carter hydraulic variable gearbox. It is reputed to have started life at Terrys Chocolate factory in York. It is in good condition for its age with all the wheels for screw cutting plus unused wheels for changing the speed as these are not needed with the automatic box. There is next to no wear on the bars which form the bed although there is quite a bit of backlash on the saddle and cross slide which I’m hoping to resolve. It is my first lathe and while a bit old and quirky I’m hoping it will give me something to develop my skills on.

Does anyone on this forum have experience Or any tips with these lathes or the Carter gearbox? Does anyone have any documentation for them (I.e. lubrication spec etc)?
9 June 2020 at 13:54 #478692
ega
Participant
@ega
Paul Cheeseman 1:

I have alerted a Barker-owning friend.

If you can figure out how to do so, it would be good to see photos, particularly of the gearbox. No doubt Tony at lathes.co.uk would also be interested.
9 June 2020 at 16:22 #478723
Ady1
Participant
@ady1
Detailed photos of stuff like a working gearbox would be pretty rare and interesting

Perhaps you could do a swap with Tony, a bunch of photos for his site for a Lathe manual if he has one kinda thing

GL

Edited By Ady1 on 09/06/2020 16:23:33
9 June 2020 at 17:55 #478738
John Coates
Participant
@johncoates48577
I've had mine for 10 years now – and bought a second for spares which came with the thread dial indicator as well (bonus)

Have converted mine to 3 phase via an inverter which does away with the speed wheels and gives infinite speed control. Bored out a quick change tool post from RDG to go on the top slide.

I broke the saddle lock so have to use a G clamp until I either swap over the saddle from the spare or make a new clamping fixture. I have toyed with the idea of welding and stitching the cast iron around the original clamp

I've never found a manual for one. Now I've got two the prospect of a full strip, clean, repair and restore is a distinct possibility when retirement arrives

Edited By John Coates on 09/06/2020 17:55:48
9 June 2020 at 18:51 #478747
Paul Cheeseman 1
Participant
@paulcheeseman1
Many thanks. I’ll upload some pictures of the lathe and send some to Tony’s site. The lock for the Cast iron tail stock on mine has cracked. It’s been turned round and a machine screw drilled and tapped in. A hexagon key has been brazed onto the machine screw. Hence the screw can be tightened onto the front slide bar to lock the tail stock. It works ok although runs the risk of marking the slide bar. Like you I’m thinking of having it welded but wonder if it is worth the effort as it may just crack at another point.
9 July 2022 at 13:16 #605089
derek mitchell
Participant
@derekmitchell58693
Another Barker lathe owner here its a 36" model with suds tray and cabinets. It still has the guards.
19 July 2022 at 19:57 #606495
Joe Brown 1
Participant
@joebrown1
Good evening. I’m thinking at having a look at one of these. Is there any means of adjustment if the bars are worn?

How are people finding them in terms of surface finish achievable and depth of cut over a conventional bedded lathe?

thanks..JB
Author

Posts