Hi, all. I have recently aquired a Lathe & Morse Tool Co. lathe. I'd love to find out more about it. I've already inquired over at OWWM and SMC, and have gotten some answers, but thought I'd dig here, too. Anyone know much about them? What I have found out so far is that lathes were made by and under that name from 1871-1891. So this great piece is 120-140 years old. Now, it has also been brought to my attention that is may have originally been a metal lathe. But someone has done a lot to make it into a wood lathe.
As much as the cool factor is driving me to keep this, I may have to sell it. But will likely do some sort of restore beforehand. This is not an ad for selling the lathe. I just want to make that clear so that everyone reading this understands my intentions and hopefully, that will keep the suggestions of use to a minimum. I would LOVE to keep it, but just don't have the room for it. I rescued it from likely being thrown away or going to scrap for $50 cash. I've even contemplated making it into a livingroom wall table...for a great conversation piece, but just don't have the room in the house either.
Dimensions are as follows: Floor to top of bed 37" (without the wheels), distance between centers 36", 12" swing (but it looks like the plate that the spindle is mounted to could be flipped making the swing 14-15", but that would require a riser for the tailstock). The motor (two came with it, one really old, and one newer 1/3 hp) isn't mounted and the plate where the motor is supposed to mount seems, well, a funky way to do it.
Along with the lathe came 4 boxes of "extras"...the motors were in one box, parts in the other three. In one of the pics of parts, there is a 3 step pulley for a straight belt. And next to it are what look like three spindles. Here are some pics of the lathe and the extras.
Any info on the lathe and/or the parts would be appreciated.
As much as the cool factor is driving me to keep this, I may have to sell it. But will likely do some sort of restore beforehand. This is not an ad for selling the lathe. I just want to make that clear so that everyone reading this understands my intentions and hopefully, that will keep the suggestions of use to a minimum. I would LOVE to keep it, but just don't have the room for it. I rescued it from likely being thrown away or going to scrap for $50 cash. I've even contemplated making it into a livingroom wall table...for a great conversation piece, but just don't have the room in the house either.
Dimensions are as follows: Floor to top of bed 37" (without the wheels), distance between centers 36", 12" swing (but it looks like the plate that the spindle is mounted to could be flipped making the swing 14-15", but that would require a riser for the tailstock). The motor (two came with it, one really old, and one newer 1/3 hp) isn't mounted and the plate where the motor is supposed to mount seems, well, a funky way to do it.
Along with the lathe came 4 boxes of "extras"...the motors were in one box, parts in the other three. In one of the pics of parts, there is a 3 step pulley for a straight belt. And next to it are what look like three spindles. Here are some pics of the lathe and the extras.
Any info on the lathe and/or the parts would be appreciated.
