Photo Index - Atlas Press Co. - Early 9" w/splayed feet

Machinery Photo Index

Manufactured/Badged by:
Atlas Press Co.
Kalamazoo, MI

Machine Specifications
Machine Class:	Metal Working Machinery
Machine Type:	Lathe, Metal
Machine Size:	9x36 modified to 10x36
Submitted By:	Mike Fendley

Machine Specifications
Description/Model:	Early 9" w/splayed feet
Date of Manufacturer:	1934
Serial Number:
Last Updated	6/16/2023 6:00:29 PM

Comments:

This lathe was shipped to me to be rebuilt so that it could be used by the grandson (in his 50’s) of the original owner. It is a 1934 Atlas 9” lathe. It was in very rough shape with rust, dirt, grime, and many broken and missing pieces. The 9” headstock was missing too many parts to truly be restored (double belt reduction and no back gear) so we opted to go with an Atlas 10D tapered roller bearing headstock and tailstock. They were probably made in the late 30s. The rest of the lathe was comprised of the original 1934 - 9” lathe where possible. The traverse gear cage on this lathe was broken and worn. Using it as a pattern I machined a new gear cage with bronze bushings that will probably not break anytime soon! It was machined out of a 4” diameter, 1.5” thick chunk of steel. There is a hole bored through the side of the cage to allow the 5/8” lead screw to slip through. The thread chasing dial housing had crumbled into powder so I machined an all steel housing complete with bronze bushings for the dial, shaft, and gear. I also mounted it further to the side in order to clear any interference with the half nut lever. The tailstock had to be shimmed and aligned to fit the headstock since they were not a matched pair. The owner wanted to go to a QCTP so the top of the compound had to be milled slightly to clear the tool block. In doing this it exposed about 1/2" of the screw, but the tool block was about 1/8” low, so a hard machined washer was used to raise the tool block and cover the exposed screw. The steady rest got new brass arms machined to fit, plus a 1/2" permanent shim on the bottom to bring a 9” steady up to the level of a 10” steady. Once the 9” follower rest gets new brass arms I hope to trade it for a 10” follower rest with someone on the forum. The 3 jaw chuck is new and had to have a new chuck back machined and it was done on this very lathe. The tailstock got a “coupling nut” combined with a 5/8” ratchet box end wrench. In this way the wrench “never leaves” and the lever ratchet wrench makes it easy and quick to lock and unlock the tailstock. The stand was an actual Atlas stand that supported an Atlas wood lathe. Fortunately for me the stand was too long for the wood lathe, and a friend traded it to me for a stand I had (shorter) that fit his Atlas wood lathe perfectly! It was a win-win. The chip tray is actually 4 heavy duty cooking trays purchased at Sam’s Club for $20. All the ends but two were precisely cut off (hardened steel wire in their edges) precisely lined up, then screwed to the stand with 3/4" plywood also under the metal stand shelf. They were then “taped” together with aluminum tape. It made a great chip tray for cheap. All in all a fun project now in the possession of a new friend 1,080 miles away.

Photo 1:

Comments: early 9x36 modified to 10"
Source: Mike Fendley

Direct Link
IMG Code

Photo 2:

Comments: steel traverse gear cage
Source: Mike Fendley

Direct Link
IMG Code

Photo 3:

Comments: 3 jaw, tool block, thread dial
Source: Mike Fendley

Direct Link
IMG Code

Photo 4:

Comments: Tailstock with lever ratchet wrench
Source: Mike Fendley

Direct Link
IMG Code

Photo 5:

Comments: Modified 9" to 10" steadyrest
Source: Mike Fendley

Direct Link
IMG Code

Photo 6:

Comments: 9" apron with "new" thread dial
Source: Mike Fendley

Direct Link
IMG Code