Subject: Barnes lathe advice needed

From: Bob Frazier <[email-masked]>
Date: Wed, 1 May 1996 16:46:31 GMT

I have an opportunity to buy an antique lathe. I want to do some
basic gunsmithing and other things as they come up. This is the least
expensive real lathe I have found, about $400. It appears to have been
converted to electric from some other power, maybe steam or water? At any
rate it has a series of wood pulleys to adjust speed and an electric 
motor (110) to drive it. Patent date is 1887, and it comes with a steady 
rest, rocker tool post, and a small face plate. The name Barnes is not 
familiar to me, but then I'm not nearly as old as this machine! The ways
appear somewhat chipped and dinged up, as it has not been idle all this 
time. I'm not familiar with scraping or making new bearings, but this 
seems a good time to learn. Any thoughts about this would be 
appreciated! It would fit in with my Buffalo Forge drill press of the 
same vintage!

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From: Bob Frazier <[email-masked]>
Date: Thu, 2 May 1996 16:42:59 GMT

Bob Frazier wrote:
> same vintage!	I looked over this lathe more carefully yesterday. The salesman said it was
converted from a treadle! I noticed a few problems. Some I have solutions for, others
have got me stumped.	
1. no chuck						apply money
2  back gear eccentric which engages gears loose	new bearing?
3  steady rest base missing				make one
4  some gears are here. obviously some missing.		find or make some
5  planetary gear not bolted(?) 			?
	This last one has got me stumped as I don't know what the planetary gear is
for or why someone would take the bolt out of one. It makes a noise inside as the
spindle is rotated. 
	The tailstock is a #1 morse taper so maybe one thing about this lathe will not 
be a custom proposition! The toolpost is wider than normal - salesman says this
means cheaper tools are available. Hmmm.
		I think I will make a low offer and see what happens!
	Bob Frazier	[email-masked]

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From: [email-masked] (Cryptical)
Date: 3 May 1996 04:06:46 GMT

In article <[email-masked]>, [email-masked] says...
>        Bob Frazier     [email-masked]

I just bought probably the exact same Lathe here in Massachussetes Last night. It 
is still in the back of my Van. It is in Very good shape and has all the gears and 
 a good amount of tooling including:
3Jaw chuck
2 face plates
Tool holders
Steady Rest
Tail Stock and Drill Chuck
Milling Attachment
Wrenches
Cutters ect.

I paid $125.00 for the entire thing.

I have a good metal Lathe and I will probably just set this old beauty up to turn 
wood. I would be interested in any information or literature you may find.

Thanks

Erik Larson