Matt Hutchinson
Member
- Messages
- 438
- Location
- Grand Rapids, MI
A few years ago I bought this pattern maker's lathe from a professional woodturner. I do a lot of bowl turning on it, and it can handle anything that can fit on it.
Here's what I know. It's a lathe fmade by the Rollstone Machine Co. in Fitchburg, MA. Rollstone Machine Works History at OWWM It couldn't have been made later than 1890. It has a 24" swing, and can turn up to 6.5 feet between center. (I might be able to do 7 feet if I hang the headstock off the end.) I don't know how much it weighs, but everything can be removed/unbolted for easy transport. It's headstock has a 2 in. shaft, with plain bearings. The outboard side holds the thrust bearing/bolt, and the inboard side does not have a standard, or centered, taper. The tailstock has a MT #3, and can be slid offcenter to make tapered spindles. The oilers in the headstock are very archaic, just some holes to drip oil in manually....and frequently. They could easily be replaced by modern oilers.
Condition: Fine condition, especially considering it's age. Dents and dings are expected, and the ways have slight wear from the decades of tailstock movement. I bought it from a professional turner who used it daily. He had the inboard end of the shaft machined to 1 1/2" 8 TPI so standard accessories can be used. The person he bought it from abused it, breaking out some of the webbing in the bed casting because he thought it would make the perfect holder for his sheet goods.
He should take a long walk off a short pier.
Other than that it is in amazing condition. I would assume it's been in operation for at least 90% of the years since it was made. I consider myself very lucky to own this machine, and even luckier because of how little it cost me! Not to mention the fact that it truly is an historical machine, and I have only seen one othe Rollstone lathe, and it's posted at OWWM. Here are the pics.
Hutch
Here's what I know. It's a lathe fmade by the Rollstone Machine Co. in Fitchburg, MA. Rollstone Machine Works History at OWWM It couldn't have been made later than 1890. It has a 24" swing, and can turn up to 6.5 feet between center. (I might be able to do 7 feet if I hang the headstock off the end.) I don't know how much it weighs, but everything can be removed/unbolted for easy transport. It's headstock has a 2 in. shaft, with plain bearings. The outboard side holds the thrust bearing/bolt, and the inboard side does not have a standard, or centered, taper. The tailstock has a MT #3, and can be slid offcenter to make tapered spindles. The oilers in the headstock are very archaic, just some holes to drip oil in manually....and frequently. They could easily be replaced by modern oilers.
Condition: Fine condition, especially considering it's age. Dents and dings are expected, and the ways have slight wear from the decades of tailstock movement. I bought it from a professional turner who used it daily. He had the inboard end of the shaft machined to 1 1/2" 8 TPI so standard accessories can be used. The person he bought it from abused it, breaking out some of the webbing in the bed casting because he thought it would make the perfect holder for his sheet goods.
He should take a long walk off a short pier.
Other than that it is in amazing condition. I would assume it's been in operation for at least 90% of the years since it was made. I consider myself very lucky to own this machine, and even luckier because of how little it cost me! Not to mention the fact that it truly is an historical machine, and I have only seen one othe Rollstone lathe, and it's posted at OWWM. Here are the pics.
Hutch
Attachments
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Rollstone Lathe 1.JPG82.6 KB · Views: 153
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Rollstone Lathe 2.JPG79.9 KB · Views: 112
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Bronze Bearing W.JPG61.2 KB · Views: 75
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Headstock W.JPG72.1 KB · Views: 83
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Inboard Yoke W.JPG51.5 KB · Views: 66
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Outboard Yoke W.JPG67.6 KB · Views: 74
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Shaft W.JPG55.9 KB · Views: 71
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Tailstock W.JPG89.6 KB · Views: 78