Photo Index - Parker McKnight Co. - Parker McKnight armature lathe

Machinery Photo Index

Manufactured/Badged by:
Parker McKnight Co.
Cincinnati, OH

Machine Specifications
Machine Class:	Metal Working Machinery
Machine Type:	Lathe, Metal
Machine Size:	6"x 12"
Submitted By:	James Huston

Machine Specifications
Description/Model:	Parker McKnight armature lathe
Date of Manufacturer:	Unknown
Serial Number:	N/A
Last Updated	3/30/2015 11:51:42 PM

Comments:

I received this armature lathe in a trade with fellow owwm'er sqneck. I actually turn a lot of small armatures (I'm a power tool mechanic)so I was glad to have it. I've seen many a trucut armature lathe, but this lathe and its manufacturer are a mystery. The lathe tail stock incorporates the compound , which can be returned via the lever. The most likely reason is to undercut the mica; unfortunately, the tooling is long gone, and I have yet to find any reference to the Parker McKnight co. of Cincinnati, Ohio so I have no idea what the cutters looked like ( although I agree with Ja'Nette that the main cutter was probably similar to a boring bar). The knob for the compound is Aluminum ( the only piece not steel, bronze or cast iron) and strikes me as a replacement. The lathe has a forties-ish feel, materials/design wise. The proportions are oddly long, and the lathe doesn't have very much swing, so it may have been for a very particular type of armature, likely a generator from an automobile of its era.

I installed new bushings in the head stock, made up a stand and motor mount and set up a spot above my metal lathe where it can be used but remain out of the way. I hope to figure out something for the tooling and get this neat piece of Ohio history back to work.

Photo 1:

Comments: The Parker McKnight
Source: JHuston

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Photo 2:

Comments: The armature lathe in its new home
Source: JHuston

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