Subject: Pratt and Whitney 10X20 Bench Lathe?

From: "Benjamin J. Groover" <[email-masked]>
Date: Fri, 6 Dec 1996 08:34:29 -0500

I went to look at  a Pratt and Whitney bench lathe yesterday.  The lathe
will be auctioned off in the near future and I was wondering if anyone
knows anything about it and its value.   The name plate claims its a
Pratt and Whitney 10X20 bench lathe model M-1689 ser#448.   It's
powered by a 3 phase motor.(belt driven from under the table).   It has
a stand, 3 jaw chuck, 4 jaw chuck, tool holder(no tools)  and 22 collets
>from  about 1/16 inch up.  On the lathe itself is a handle with four speeds
slow, fast(forward and reverse).  I don't know if the speeds where changed
by controlling the motor or gears inside?  Any opions :) on whether this
would make a good lathe for a beginner.  I was considering a sherline
as a learning tool and  a good way of getting started but this seems like
it could be much better.  It appears to be in excellant
condition.(untrained
eye)  After purchasing something like this would it be best to convert it
to single phase power or get a 3phase converter?

thanks for your help,
ben
[email-masked]

---

From: [email-masked]
Date: 8 Dec 1996 21:01:09 GMT

In article <[email-masked]>, "Benjamin J.
Groover" <[email-masked]> writes:

>Pratt and Whitney 10X20 bench lathe model M-1689 ser#448.   

This lathe sounds very nice from your description. Others in the newsgroup
will be more able to answer your questions about value and so forth. One
possible consideration is the sad fact that Pratt & Whitney is one of the
major old line American machine tool builders that has fallen by the
wayside. Parts and manuals may not be available. Possibly someone else out
there will have more information on this. According to my 10th ed. of
_Serial Number Reference Book_, this machine was built in 1940.

8 Dec. 1996

David Lindquist
[email-masked]