Photo Index - P. Pryibil - twist lathe

Machinery Photo Index

Manufactured/Badged by:
P. Pryibil
New York, NY

True Manufacturer:
P. Pryibil, New York, NY

Machine Specifications
Machine Class:	Wood Working Machinery
Machine Type:	Lathe, Wood
Machine Size:
Submitted By:	joe biunno

Machine Specifications
Description/Model:	twist lathe
Date of Manufacturer:	1900
Serial Number:
Last Updated	3/9/2011 4:31:16 PM

Comments:

twist lathe manuf. by the p.pryibil co., located in n.y.c.,around the turn of the century.used extensively for doing victorian style molding and trim work(stair balusters,bed posts,finials,etc.).unique to this machine is a cutter head that i have never seen before. it consists of two sets of knives(four individual profiled knives) stacked in a similiar fashion that today's shaper knives are set up,on a spindle,with top and bottom collars with the typical "v' groove in them. but these knives are set up like a triple decker sandwich! starting from the bottom, there is a collar,then two knives,then another collar,then another two knives(which are oriented 90 degrees to the bottom knives!),then a third collar,finishing off the "sandwich". a very imposing sight when turning the motor on and seeing those four knives(each at a north,south,east and west position) spinning. the cutting action is so unique that when you look at the knives,and how they are sharpened, it is nearly impossible to understand the final shape they will produce. i can only describe the cutting action as somewhat like when using an ice cream scoop to scoop ice cream from a container. the knives do the same kind of action,curving and rotating into the workpiece and exiting the cut from the inside out. more info to follow!

Photo 1:

Comments: pryibil twist lathe
Source: from the P.Pryibil Machine Co. catalog no. 19

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Photo 2:

Comments: full copy of page 117 showing twist lathe and the catalog description
Source: p.pryibil co. catalog from the turn of the century

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