watchmakers lathe drawings

Merry Christmas All, I am finding the 8mm watchmakers lathe to be an interesting machine. As such, I must tinker. First, I'm making an extention tube to hold long workpieces, and have made a drawing of the drawbar. I would like to post this, since it might be useful to others, and since it might lead me to more pedigreed documentation. The drawing is from my measurements of one particular well used drawbar. Can I post a link to the drawing from this group?

I intend to ream the ID of the drawbar to 0.25" and insert a brass tube.

Again, Merry Christmas All. John B.

Reply to
johnb7
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John ` You're most welcome to post a link (but, as you obviously know, it's a 'text only' group) ....what's the lathe?

Welcome aboard, I'm the duty officer today,- I'm the only one sober enough (or 'sad' enough) to type!

Merry Christmas --

Chris Edwards (in deepest Dorset) "....there *must* be an easier way!"

Reply to
Chris Edwards

Hello Chris,

Please accept my condolences on the lack of 'christmas cheer'. You're the designated driver tonight?

I've picked up a German watchmakers lathe, unbranded. On the right end of the bed it is stamped '243' 'Germany', and that is all. It had a few Whitcomb collets with it.

My guess is that there may still be a larger population of these lathes in the UK than other places, since the UK is responsible for start fine watchmaking.

Anyway, I've posted my drawing at:

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Hopefully I can network a bit and find (rather than develop) a collection of original for the various essential components. For now, I'm looking to confirm the thread dimensions of the colletts (drawbar). It's 'about' 0.250" x 40 TPI.

If you're aware of a group of watchmakers lathe enthusiasts (there's a lively group, 'eh?), would you kindly let me know?

Again, Merry Christmas from the US, and forward that senitment to your drunken buddies!

John Best Tinker.

Chris Edwards wrote:

Reply to
johnb7

'morning John

Unfortunately, I know nothing about watchmakers' lathes so can't help directly to identify your lathe or describe the original drawbar. However, there is a possibility that something useful may be contributed as the rest of the group slowly emerge from their Christmas fogs of one sort and another. The first trick is to identify the lathe - have you checked

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- a world class reference site for the identification of machine tools? That's definitely the place to start. There's a ton of stuff on watchmakers' lathes, including many illustrations of machines and their accessories. The guy who runs the site, Tony Griffiths is very helpful and can be reached at snipped-for-privacy@lathes.co.uk There is also a very active sales & wants section on the site. Additionally, we also have one very active and particularly knowledgeable German contributor, Nick Mueller, he may be able to help, although even he may need more than just'243' !

The other problem is that I can't open your PDF. I get an error message regarding add-ons. I recently upgraded my Adobe reader but I haven't had a problem with anything to date.

I have a fairly comprehensive guide to watchmakers' collets,with sketches giving dimensions and threads of most of the common types. If a copy of a couple of pages of that might help I could scan and send as an email attachment. Many amateur horologists read Model Engineer magazine so if all else fails, an ad there might produce something but I wouldn't rate your chances unless you can at least identify the lathe.

Good hunting! --

Chris Edwards (in deepest Dorset) "....there *must* be an easier way!"

Reply to
Chris Edwards

It looks just like the drawbar for my Boley Standard, sold new in 1895!

Steve R.

Reply to
Steve R.

Hi John,

I checked my drawbar taps, the tap for 8mm WW collet thread is .275" (6,985 mm) x 40 tpi. The European 8mm drawbar tap is 6,85 mm x 40 tpi. Btw, I have made drawbars from 8 mm steel tubing used for car brake lines, works perfect. Some of my friends have used U.S. 5/16" (7.94 mm) brake lines for the drawtubes.

cheers, Per

johnb7 wrote:

Reply to
gustavssonper

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