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non-European traditional lathes

T

Tib Shaw

AAW Gallery Curator
Staff member
Joined
Jul 18, 2008
Messages
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Location
St. Paul, MN
Website
www.galleryofwoodart.org
I am looking for information on non-European traditional lathes - the images I've seen are of lathes from India or ancient Persia (Iran) where the operator sits on the ground. I am curious if anyone has used or built one. I understand this type of lathe is still in use in India, but I've hit a dead end in my research.

We have several vintage and reproduction lathes on display at the AAW Gallery in St Paul, including a beautiful copy of a Viking bow lathe by Dick Enstad.

It would be great to expand the display to include non-Western styles, and any help would be appreciated!
 
Contact Robin Wood

Hello Tib,

Not too long ago, I learned about an English woodturner named Robin Wood. I'm not sure if you are familiar with him or not, but he recently published a book titled The Wooden Bowl. It is a history of bowl turning. In that book, he states that the earliest pictoral evidence of a lathe was from Egypt and dates to 320BC. He states that the lathe was a "reciprocal strap lathe." It is operated by two people, and Mr. Wood states that "this sort of lathe is still in use in Egypt today." I have just started reading the book, but it seems like a resource that may be valuable to you. Robin Wood's website is:
http://www.robin-wood.co.uk/
From what I have learned about him through his book and website, he seems like the type of person who would be happy to help out with your questions if you contacted him.

Good luck with your research,

Mark Nadeau
 
Tutankhamun's tomb 1300's BC had a great number of round items of alabaster and ivory. You may be able to find what you're looking for by following the history of these materials. Museums in Britain and Cairo might be a good starting point. Sounds like a fascinating project.

Robert
 
Thanks! I am familiar with Robin Wood's book - it is a real beauty and is on my Christmas list, underlined and in capital letters. That's a great idea to contact him - I will give it a shot.
There is a museum in Cairo with some incredible very early turnings in granite from the Step pyramids: really amazing work, and the technology seemingly disappeared afterward.
 
Go to your local library and check out One Good Turn. It is about the screw but gives a short history of lathes (they need the screw to make precise machining lathes). He has illustrations of old lathes. They functioned with the piece being upright. Short book good read.
 
Thanks

That sounds like a great book on any number of levels - I will check it out. I love books along those lines: they really illustrate so much about the times, the people and the cultures.

While I have found a wealth of book resources - what I am looking for is an actual Indian or Persian-style lathe (or plans) or photographs or footage of someone using one. I read somewhere that they are still in use in rural India but haven't been able to find one.

With all those re-enactors out there concentrating on the American Civil War, the Middle Ages, the Viking era and the Renaissance...where are the ancient Egyptian and Persian re-enactors??

Thanks for all the tips!
 
Stuart King also of GB

Stuart King has done a lot of research on various old lathes. He had a grant where he went to Romania and other East Europe sites to see current itinerant turners who use old style methods. He has a four part series on the history of turning on his web site. Part one's link is given below. You can also email him and he usually replies within a few weeks.


http://www.stuartking.co.uk/index.php/history-of-the-lathe-part-one-reciprocal-motion/

Ann
 
Morrocan Woodturner

HERE: http://www.kestrelcreek.com/toc.htm?id=23&cat=general
Can't learn much from the picture but there is a contact for the author. There was a neat short youtube video on the same thing. I will keep looking unless someone else finds it first.
Another much more detailed photo HERE: http://www.pbase.com/jberio/image/45100033
and http://fineartamerica.com/featured/moroccan-woodturner-yvonne-ayoub.html
Of course, bow lathes are a part of all human experience, including European as seen the the video HERE:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVwTSzNLxcM
The stock prep is interesting.
More construction details in THIS video:
http://www.gather.com/viewVideo.action?id=11821949021863092
But the following history is perhaps leads you closest to what you are looking for:
http://www.stuartking.co.uk/index.php/history-of-the-lathe-part-one-reciprocal-motion/
 
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Jerry, maybe do a swing on the east coast, i will come to your rotation, i want a closer look at that captured ring
 
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Bingo!

Gil and Jerry's footage and photos are exactly what I was looking for - thank you! At some point in the past I came across the Marrakesh footage, but it was long ago and I couldn't find it again.

Stuart King's history of the lathe has been a very valuable resource for me and his style and site are very engaging.

Thanks again -
Tib
 
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