Watchmaker’s lathe

[Speedy Builder5Participant @speedybuilder5]

Hi there watchmakers. I have been given (not yet received) the attached equipment. A little bit smaller than my Oxford lathe and mill drill. I sort of understand the lathe, but what is the rest of it called. What size electric motor would be required for the lathe (Speed/ power)Also, what basic books would help me master the use of them.

Bob H

[Speedy Builder5Participant @speedybuilder5]

What have I got here

[Stephen BensonParticipant @stephenbenson75261]

Very Jealous excellent quality kit Donald De Carle is the author of the following very useful books

"With the Watchmaker at the bench" would be my first choice

"The watchmakers lathe and model engineers lathe a users manual" would also be helpful and much easier to find

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Leaving the 'Geneva pattern' lathe aside [you will find lots of information on lathes.co.uk] … the Brass one looks like a Jacot tool, and I think the other may be a topping-tool.

The other big box contains a Staking Set; which is very useful … I'm sure you will quickly see how that works.

MichaelG.

.

Edit: the small "lathe"at the bottom of your picture is a Watchmaker's "Turns" … used with a Bow [traditionally a single hair from a Horse's tail] for turning very small work between dead centres.

P.S. … Something like a Sewing Machine motor is commonly used on the Geneva pattern lathes.

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 08/02/2015 19:06:54

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 08/02/2015 19:17:56

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Forgot to mention …

This is a great source of information on tools and technique.

MichaelG.

[RJWParticipant @rjw]

Just to add, not Just a staking set, but a Jewelling staking set, it has a micrometer attachment at the top for setting jewels into watch plates to a pre-determined depth – a Very desirable, less common and as you would expect, very expensive bit of kit indeed!

If I’m not mistaken it also has a set of watch crystal (for acrylics) press tools in there, you’ll also see a chart for jewels in the lid!

On one of my lathes, I use a sewing machine motor and speed controlling foot pedal, it does the job well, but gets a bit hot if you push the boundaries a bit and run it too long under load, but I’ve never stalled it yet even using cutting tools in a compound crosslide rather than a graver, the belt will slip first, so if not intending to do much heavy metal murdering, a similar motor would do the job!

My main lathe uses a bigger bench motor with a variac speed controller

John.

Edited By RJW on 08/02/2015 21:51:31

[ShadowParticipant @shadow]

The book "The Watchmaker's Lathe, It's Use and Abuse" by Goodrich is a good overview of the development and accessories.

[Speedy Builder5Participant @speedybuilder5]

Thanks for the info Guys. Funnily enough, I had stumbled across Watchmaking.weebly which helped me identify some of the bits. I now await to see what arrives in the post from amazon!!!

BobH

[Russell EberhardtParticipant @russelleberhardt48058]

Wonderful gift!

Russell

[john jennings 1Participant @johnjennings1]

Can't agree more,.

I wish it had happened more often to me. I always seemed to miss out on the "a friend has given me this old Leica – is it any good" scenario.

Hours of fun ahead!

John

[Speedy Builder5Participant @speedybuilder5]

OK, bought the book off Amazon, have to say "its a bit old American" and could be more helpful about how to use the tools – anyway. I have a sewing M/c motor 200 – 240 volt 0.5amp 50 watt motor (2 brush) and want to make a speed controller for it. I have the foot switch, but would prefer an on/off switch and rotary speed control rheostat. I have found the following on the internet. Anybody care to cast an eye over it and pass comment please.

**LINK**

BobH

[RJWParticipant @rjw]

BobH, I’ve got a Boley lathe rigged up with a sewing machine motor, and I use a domestic dimmer switch secured in a plastic wall plate (shallow box), been using it that way for some years now and works a treat, the switch is conveniently sited to one side of the lathe on the same board, my other one is rigged up with a more powerful motor hooked up to a variac control.
John.

Edited By RJW on 26/02/2015 14:17:48

[Speedy Builder5Participant @speedybuilder5]

Well, that seems a very simple solution. Thanks BobH

[Speedy Builder5Participant @speedybuilder5]

Well, that seems a very simple solution. Thanks BobH

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