F.E. Reed & Co. (10" x 4' metal lathe) "Martha"

[nokomisforge]

by any chance did you ever find a patten Number on the lathe. I just bought one and it is missing a lot

[firefyteremt]

@nokomisforge Nope, there are some numbers here and there, but just single digits and stuff. Good luck finding parts, there are not that many of them out there.

[nokomisforge]

@nokomisforge I found the patten number it is 649504 hope you can use it

[Wimseys]

I possess an early 1870's : A. F. Prentice two speed foot powered lathe that once belonging to my great-grandfather, form Worcester Massachusetts. Mr. Reed went into business on his own account in 1875 at No. 54 Hermon street, Worcester Massachusetts in the firm of A. F. Prentice & Company, In 1877 he bought the interests of Albert F. Prentice company. Mr. Reed moved to Gold Street In 1883 until April 3, 1912. btw. a first-rate lathe you have there!

[firefyteremt]

@Wimseys

Thanks for the info!.. I did know where they set up shop, in fact I had tried to find the old shop a while back. I work in Worcester, so I took a drive to Hermon St, but could not be sure if the building is still there. Everything in that area did not have clear street numbers. It sounds like you have a great project as well... I would love to see photos!

[toadabc]

I have a similar lathe and am trying to find info. Where is the name stamped on yours?

[firefyteremt]

@toadabc My only stamping is on the brass plate for the gear ratio's. The newer ones had it stamped on the legs, but the early ones did not have the stamping anywhere on the casting. (From what I understand)

[partsproduction]

Beautiful! I'd love to go back and spend a day in a shop in the mid 1800's, carbon steel tool bits, lard oil. Makes one appreciate modern machine tools.

[Axbent]

nice lathe! Would love to restore an old machine like that!

[firefyteremt]

@Axbent

Me too! LOL.... One of these days I will give it a paint job! For now, it is still in use!

[BuickDoc]

I have a 8" x 24" bench lathe made by the Dalton Mfg. Corp., NY, USA The latest patent date on the brass plates is Oct. 20, 1914. It is a flat belt driven, manual gear head, screw cutting metal lathe. It too has babbit bearings. I cleaned it up and repainted it and used it a couple of times, with brass, utilizing a variable speed DC motor.

I would like to get rid of it, but refuse to take it to the scrap yard. Anyone interested, let me know.

[TYUF786]

nice lathe .i have a 12" reed ,a 16" riser type tool post(like yours)engine lathe from worchester and drill press running off lineshaft ....plus a bunch of stuff getting restored ........i'm in NY ....40 minutes or so from CT and i have extra belting,pulleys,hangers,babbit bearings etc... glad to see someone who appreciates,runs,restores machines of the american industrial arts period .and if i can help you out let me know

[GaryBearful]

P.S. - I agree about the design too... I named my 1912 South-Bend "Lucy" ! Again, very nice machine. It's amazing how quietly these things run. Mine runs just like a sewing machine! Best regards!

[firefyteremt]

Thanks! South Bends makes some wonderful lathes and that American Tool Works sounds like a beast! I almost brought one home about that size, maybe a bit bigger, but the guy changed his mind and figured it was worth a lot of money all of a sudden.

[GaryBearful]

It's a shame that we in our country have to 'rescue' such wonderful, well-made, machinery from the scrap. I myself have rescued a very early (1912) South-Bend lathe, and a circa 1906 American Tool Works 15 X 72" lathe from being scrapped - along with many other old machine tools (somewhat to my wife's dismay!)

Very very good job on finding and restoring this machine. The more of this equipment we can keep alive the better. Cheers!

[farmerphil]

Nice lathe, I just saved a turn of the century lathe from a barn, Hope to have my lineshaft setup soon. GOOD JOB. Phil