What on earth?? It's a bird! It's a lathe! It's...

[jakes_66]

Very cool, thanks for the help. With your suggestions I think I may have found the manufacturer as well. It looks like a Burton and Rogers armature lathe.

Photo Index - Burton & Rogers Manufacturing Co. - Armature lathe | VintageMachinery.org

The horizontal spindle is for undercutting the mica!

 

[benmychree]

Armature commutator undercutting lathe, it cuts down the mica insulation between the commutator bars.

 

[f350ca]

If its an armature lathe how do you disconnect the spindle to stop the armature turning while cutting the mica?
It has the double pulley and belt shifter to disconnect it from a line shaft, but I don't see any way to stop the spindle.

Greg

 

[benmychree]

If its an armature lathe how do you disconnect the spindle to stop the armature turning while cutting the mica?
It has the double pulley and belt shifter to disconnect it from a line shaft, but I don't see any way to stop the spindle.

Greg

That is a good question, I do not see a provision for that, other than removing the spindle drive belt.

 

[jakes_66]

If its an armature lathe how do you disconnect the spindle to stop the armature turning while cutting the mica?
It has the double pulley and belt shifter to disconnect it from a line shaft, but I don't see any way to stop the spindle.

Greg

Here's my guess, the left input sheave and main spindle drive sheave are one piece and ride on a bearing between the ID of the sheaves and the OD of the shaft. With the belt on the left the main spindle is driven alone. On the right the longitudinal shaft is driven alone.

Back to f350ca's question: How is the armature locked in position to do the undercutting? It seems like the main spindle would tend to drift.... Position and accuracy while undercutting would be very important!

 

[jakes_66]

Here's the link to the auction if anyone is genuinely interested. I have too many projects myself. It's cool, but it would sit in a corner and collect dust if I bought it.

Cold Springs Gallery

LOCATION: 1210 Cold Springs Rd, Stuarts Draft, Va, 24477 PREVIEW: Any Tuesday from 3 PM to 6 PM or any Wednesday from 8 AM to 10 AM or 3 PM to 6 PM PICKUP: Wednesday, October 19, from 8 AM to 10 AM or 3 PM to 6 PM. CONTACT: Office (540) 337-3446, info@enlistedauctions.com Buyer's Premium: 10%...

bid.enlistedauctions.com

It's item #55.