I would like to purchase an old engine turning lathe similar to that
used by cartier and faberge around 1900 to 1940 . If any one has any
on engine turning equiptment I would appreciate that
too.
Gold Machinery happens to have a small straight line engine turning
machine on ebay right now. I’m sure they have more that that one,
if you miss the = auction.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1726851026#DESC
Engine turning machines include both the lathe type (sometimes
called a “round” machine, and the straight line machines. The lathes
produce round and oval patterns, like watch faces and the barleycorn
patterns on watch backs. The straight line machines, which work more
like a shaper, cut either paralell patterned lines, or radial,
starburst type lines. In many ways, they’re actually a bit more
versatile than the lathes. Check out the Pledge and Altworth web
site, at http://www.pledge.co.uk/ for more info that you can imagine
on these machines. And feel free to email me if you’d like other
insights. I’ve got a machine much like the one being sold on ebay,
though mine doesn’t have an open slot in the patterns for a
replaceable bar (sigh).
Peter Rowe
There are some pictures of old engine turning lathe in the book,
Daniel Brush, Gold without Boundaries, by Donald Kuspi et al, I am
not sure of the age but they are fascinating.