- Joined
- Feb 1, 2014
- Messages
- 339
I aquired this lathe from a friend a few years ago for $700. I'm finally in a position to get it up and running and to learn how to properly use it.
From the Serial Number Card I learned that it was manufactured in July of 1941 and sold to Apex Engineering in Chicago. Apex manufactured sextants and other instrument for the Navy.
I recently had another friend (who knows much more than I do about these things...) check it out. He told me that the lathe is in very good shape and appears to have very little wear. Everything is tight. He also said that he believes the ways are flame hardened. The thrust bearing at the spindle was improperly installed, so he fixed that. We fired it up and he gave it an operational check and gave it his blessing and told me to go ahead and use it.
I have all new felts, we replaced the ones at the spindle, and I am going to replace all the rest also.
I would like to completely restore it at some point after I become more familiar with using it.
I will post more pictures later.
From the Serial Number Card I learned that it was manufactured in July of 1941 and sold to Apex Engineering in Chicago. Apex manufactured sextants and other instrument for the Navy.
I recently had another friend (who knows much more than I do about these things...) check it out. He told me that the lathe is in very good shape and appears to have very little wear. Everything is tight. He also said that he believes the ways are flame hardened. The thrust bearing at the spindle was improperly installed, so he fixed that. We fired it up and he gave it an operational check and gave it his blessing and told me to go ahead and use it.
I have all new felts, we replaced the ones at the spindle, and I am going to replace all the rest also.
I would like to completely restore it at some point after I become more familiar with using it.
I will post more pictures later.
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