Photo Index - Oliver Machinery Co. - 51-B Type II

Machinery Photo Index

Manufactured/Badged by:
Oliver Machinery Co.
Grand Rapids, MI

Machine Specifications
Machine Class:	Wood Working Machinery
Machine Type:	Lathe, Wood
Machine Size:	12" Swing
Submitted By:	Robert Champagne

Machine Specifications
Description/Model:	51-B Type II
Date of Manufacturer:	1930's?
Serial Number:	Kimble# 69209
Last Updated	3/20/2012 9:13:42 AM

Comments:

Purchased from a CL seller in northern Mass. It is a Kimble dome head (not sure of exact variant) on an older Oliver model 19 lathe bed and legs. The seller had inherited this lathe from an uncle, who was a woodworker, and had tried to turn long 1" oak spindles for something for his farm. The speed governor was cranked up to top speed, and the live center in the tailstock was loose, so he got bad results and just wanted to make space. The fuses were missing, and the push button starter was long gone, replaced with a Furnas drum switch. The old bed and legs have "The Oliver" cast into them, and the bed has the tool rest carriage rail (no tool rest carriage, though). I have been told that the tailstock is the patternmakers model, as it can tilt up and down on a cam. The lathe came with a few small tool rests, the banjo, tailstock, and outboad handwheel. The seller also threw in a box of old turning gouges, which is always nice. I tinkered with the speed governor (much thanks to Ray Muno, who helpfully answered all the questions new owners of these Kimble head lathes have), and got the machine to spin at the proper range of speed. The PO had it wired for 220, but was running it on 110, so I switched that back. Cleaned up the moving parts and the bed, put new grease in the bearings, and it is running nicely. The Kimble motor is a single phase 1/2 hp dual voltage motor, with variable speeds from 600 to 3600 RPM. This particular head has a spindle lock, but not the spindle brake.

Photo 1:

Comments: Front of Lathe
Source: my camera

Direct Link
IMG Code

Photo 2:

Comments: Kimble head
Source: my camera

Direct Link
IMG Code

Photo 3:

Comments: Under the hood
Source: my camera

Direct Link
IMG Code

Photo 4:

Comments: Banjo, Tailstock, Bed
Source: my camera

Direct Link
IMG Code

Photo 5:

Comments: Kimble Tag
Source: My camera

Direct Link
IMG Code