Drummond type m

[Daniel BrannanParticipant @danielbrannan48897]

Hi

Firstly let me confess I'm no model engineer – more a home motorcycle mechanic/engineer – but your forum was the only decent source of lathe related chat I could find so here I am!

I have recently picked up a Drummond type M in reasonable condition which I intend to restore to working condition however I'm currently missing a top slide and tool post, and the back gear assembly (although I think I possibly have the bull and small gears). This thing is old – to give you some idea its still got the mount for a treadle on the stand although the actual treadle is lost in the mists of time. The previous owner had replaced the flat belt cone pulleys with v belt pulleys but in doing so seems to have removed the back gear. I'm unlikely to be turning large diameter parts to warrant the back gear but I'd really like the thing to be complete.

My question is does anyone know where, if anywhere, I could purchase such parts or if I could take something off another lathe such as a myford? Or indeed does anyone have any parts knocking about in a spider invested corner of a garage somewhere they'd be willing to sell?

Thanks for your help

Regards

Dan

[Daniel BrannanParticipant @danielbrannan48897]

Restoration and parts info

[David George 1Participant @davidgeorge1]

Hi Dan welcome to the forum. I have an M type like you and there are quite a few mods and bits I have done to ny lathe they ard in my albums for you to look at. I have bought a few parts from Keith Robinson in shefield you can try him. I will send a personal message with his details.

David

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

The M-type is the newest Drummond and there are lots around. Take a bit of time to look over this forum which has lots of threads about them and of course the Lathes.co.uk site. Parts come up on ebay quite often, as in every day, and you can fit a Myford and some other topslides provided the height is low enough.

[HopperParticipant @hopper]

Welcome to the forum from another M type owner.

Back gear parts come up on eBay UK fairly regularly. Myford parts from ML7 etc will not fit.Totally different.

But there is a Myford M-type that is the same machine as the Drummond M-type, so include that in your eBay searches. Myford took over manufacture from Drummond in WW2, fitting V-belt pulleys in the process. You should be able to date your machine from the serial number on the right hand end of the rear bed shear/way and look it up on Lathes.co.uk site.

Also there is a Drummondlathes group on Yahoo Groups that has a lot of information in the files section and can often help locate parts if you post your needs in the group forum section.

[Daniel BrannanParticipant @danielbrannan48897]

Thanks for all the replies that's really helpful. I'd been looking for the serial on a plate at the front which mine doesn't have so I'll try and check the bed as in genuinely interested as to the year.

If I'm struggling on ebay I'll contact Keith Robinson as you suggest David. I'll post an update soon

Thanks!

[geoff walker 1Participant @geoffwalker1]

Daniel,

Keith Robinson (52kr) currently has a some parts for sale on ebay.

Like David I have also bought parts of him.

Just keep your eye open on ebay plus other sites for spares.

Any problems you may have with restoration just let us know, there are a few guys on here with M types and we have all been through the restoration process.

Regards Geoff

[HopperParticipant @hopper]

Ah yes, I know 52kr on the Bay of Fleas. He quite often has M-type parts listed. Must buy and break quite a few M-types.

BTW Daniel, quite a few  motorbike types on here too. I like to use my 1937 Drummond to make parts for my 1942 Harley. Plus have a few Nortons etc

Edited By Hopper on 09/05/2019 12:08:31

[Daniel BrannanParticipant @danielbrannan48897]

Ah that's good to hear hopper. My main aim is to turn stainless spacers/pins etc as I can't bear looking at rusty crusty parts. However it's one step forward and two back – last night whilst balancing carbs on my cbr I dropped the fuel tank on the concrete floor. It didn't end well

[HopperParticipant @hopper]

Ouch! That would hurt.

[Daniel BrannanParticipant @danielbrannan48897]

I had a look tonight – serial number 632 (see pic in my album). Which according to lathes.co.uk makes it a 1920 to 1922! It's older than I thought

[Daniel BrannanParticipant @danielbrannan48897]

According to this there is a design flaw with the bearings on my model although I can't really see how the lead key would affect anything regardless of fit as the bronze bearing is pulled into the head stock as you tighten and would surely stay in place as a result. Has anyone else had any experience of chatter with this model?

http://www.lathes.co.uk/drummond-headstocks/

[David George 1Participant @davidgeorge1]

Hi Dan There is a mod to fit an extra thrust bearing just behind the chuck location and into the bronze bearing. The bearing is a roller thrust bearing with two hardened washers and fits perfectly into the space there now. It gives more support to the spindle and reduce chatter. I bought mine from Simply Bearings NTA1625 Needle Roller Cage Thrust Assembly with 2 TRA1625 Washers 1.00×1.562×0.1381 inch (NTA1625-TRA1625) = £6.41

David

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

Posted by Daniel Brannan on 09/05/2019 17:38:57:

According to this there is a design flaw with the bearings on my model although I can't really see how the lead key would affect anything regardless of fit as the bronze bearing is pulled into the head stock as you tighten and would surely stay in place as a result. Has anyone else had any experience of chatter with this model?

 

http://www.lathes.co.uk/drummond-headstocks/

Not with that particular model, but all lathes chatter, and you just adjust your cutting style until they stop.

lathes.co.uk describe a problem that Drummond tried repeatedly to fix so I guess you have a machine more likely to chatter than others. Provided it's not also worn elsewhere such that the whole machine is loose, it should still be capable of good work. Just don't expect to hack metal off in grand style.

An important feature of machine tools is their rigidity. Apart from your bearing issue, gentlemanly treadle lathes tend to be flimsy compared with machines designed for a hairy bottomed motor. When you get the old girl going, treat her gentle and see how far you can go before chatter intrudes. Don't be surprised if getting the best out of the lathe takes time, practice and sharp cutting tools.

Dave

Edited By SillyOldDuffer on 09/05/2019 17:55:57

[Daniel BrannanParticipant @danielbrannan48897]

This is good info. I think I'll definitely do the bearing mod.

Point taken though Dave- all I really want from it is to be able to turn stainless spacers etc but I'll go easy at first. I'll have to anyway as I don't have a clue what I'm doing

[Daniel BrannanParticipant @danielbrannan48897]

Ps is that roller bearing a replacement for the ball race that is currently in there? I currently have a caged ball thrust bearing running behind the Chuck but it looks fairly light duty.no idea if these were standard?

[geoff walker 1Participant @geoffwalker1]

Daniel,

In reply to your last post, no the roller bearing is not a replacement.

The caged ball bearing you have would be standard for your lathe, an early M type.

Davids mod is for the later M types 1925 to early 50's and not suitable for your machine.

The later M types had the improved main bearings with the thrust bearing at the rear but did suffer from end float of the spindle.

This can be mostly eliminated with the mod david suggests or an alternative approach by adding an additional thrust bearing at the left hand end of the spindle. The latter approach may be possible on your machine.

Geoff

[Daniel BrannanParticipant @danielbrannan48897]

Many thanks I'll probably leave that ball race as is and put an additional thrust at the gear end of the spindle as there's room I'm sure. Sorry last irritating question – would the dimensions of the bearing David suggested be ok for that purpose? If not I'll measure it tonight

[HopperParticipant @hopper]

My M-type will take .100" deep cuts in steel under power feed without chatter. After you've set up the headstock bearings and gibs etc, it's all in the way you grind the toolbits. (See LH Sparey's book "The Amateur's Lathe" re knife tool.)

[Daniel BrannanParticipant @danielbrannan48897]

Eek I'm scared about grinding my own tools as I don't have a clue. So far I've gone down the carbide inserts route.

[Daniel BrannanParticipant @danielbrannan48897]

Hi all, I got I touch with Keith who sold me the back gear spindle and handle for a fair price. All I need now is pulleys, bull gear, small gear and top slide. I've also sourced some extra thrust bearings after so hopefully I'm nearly in business.

Thanks for all your advice

[HopperParticipant @hopper]

You might get the remaining bits through the Yahoo group if you post there. LINK

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