Photo Index - H. B. Smith Machine Co. - 483-B, 12" X 24" Speed Lathe

Machinery Photo Index

Manufactured/Badged by:
H. B. Smith Machine Co.
Lowell, MA; Smithville, NJ

Machine Specifications
Machine Class:	Wood Working Machinery
Machine Type:	Lathe, Wood
Machine Size:	12" Swing; 24" Between Centers
Submitted By:	Dave Potts

Machine Specifications
Description/Model:	483-B, 12" X 24" Speed Lathe
Date of Manufacturer:	1920ish
Serial Number:
Last Updated	11/16/2014 3:24:05 PM

Comments:

This machine was purchased from another OWWMer during the summer of 2014 and had to be shipped from halfway up Michigan's mitten back down to New Jersey. Fortunately a third OWWMer was making that trek early in the Fall and the lathe now rests a mere 8 miles from where it was cast. (Thanks Josh!!!)
The motor tag is missing but the controller/drum switch is a 1/2 HP Westinghouse 4-speed unit for the 3-phase motor that's mounted on the machine. All of the casting numbers match on the lathe, with the exception of the toolrest banjo. That is marked South School, with no other markings. The slot in the bed/ways measures 1.5" and the machine weighed 480-pounds when we weighed it hanging from the gantry. The inboard spindle is 1.125" X 8tpi RH. The outboard spindle is 1.0" X 8 LH. The oneway chuck and the spindle adapter from my Oliver 2159 lathe share similar thread sizes, as do some early Yates lathes. My tooling fits right on the Smith inboard spindle.
The original intent for this purchase was to do some on-site turning demonstrations at a few of the Smithville Park events. I would be a few hundred feet from the factory grounds and in the shadows of the worker's houses. I was going to outfit the machine with a 110V VFD so that it could be easily run from outdoor outlets or a small generator. The weight of this lathe may make that too difficult to be practical. I'll have to look at ways to make the machine more mobile.

Photo 1:

Comments: The machine as I received it
Source: My $martphone

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Photo 2:

Comments: Bed Casting & Model number
Source: My own

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Photo 3:

Comments: Drum speed selector switch
Source: My own

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Photo 4:

Comments: Tailstock and original handle
Source: My own

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Photo 5:

Comments: Drum switch mechanism
Source: My own

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