Photo Index - Moore & Colby - Wood bed - Rack & pinion

Machinery Photo Index

Manufactured/Badged by:
Moore & Colby
Peterborough, NH

Machine Specifications
Machine Class:	Metal Working Machinery
Machine Type:	Lathe, Metal
Machine Size:	24" x 14'
Submitted By:	Benjamin Campbell

Machine Specifications
Description/Model:	Wood bed - Rack & pinion
Date of Manufacturer:	1830s
Serial Number:
Last Updated	7/2/2015 6:18:56 AM

Comments:

Recently attributed to Moore & Colby of Peterborough (occasionally spelled Peterboro
in some historic texts)New Hampshire, this was one of the first, if not the first, flat belt
machine which I acquired back in the early 1990s and the adventure of salvaging it
propelled my interest in early machinery - water powered mills - etc.

I had seen a super ornate cast iron metal lathe and was hot to find one for a turning project.
Knowing that they had an old lathe worthy of saving a friend sent me over to the Pierce
saw and box mill in Hancock NH, a disused and rapidly deteriorating water and steam powered
concern which had in earlier days been run by Harry M Sheldon as a saw/clothes pin mill.

The lathe was not exactly what I had had in mind and was far larger than my vehicle and work space
could comfortably accommodate. Cutting it in half was an option and would have still been more than
I needed but even at age 24 + - I had a hunch that it was an ancient machine and
something which should be saved in its entirety. It was soon in the barn of the friend who had
encouraged me to pursue it.

Through contact with Ed Battison of the American Precision Museum and other research I came to
learn just how early this lathe is and appreciate that it is one of the least altered -
most complete known lathes of its class.

Measuring 14' 2" long and capable of turning 24" over the ways this rare survivor still
posses its original three pulley jack shaft - steady rest - and 62 inch long 8tpi lead screw
(the other lathes of this class which I am aware of never had lead screws). Incredibly there
are no real alterations or damages to this 180 year old machine tool - only several minor
losses including the change gears - the bracket which held the outboard end of the lead
screw and presumably several larger face plates and chucks.

The only marking to be found(It is rare in itself to find markings on this class of lathe) was
an M&O or M&C stamped into the bottom half of the main head stock spindle bearing. I was
leaning toward M&C and others concurred citing a serif at about 2 o’clock on the “C” or “O”.
It was purely by accident and only this year that I stumbled upon the name “Moore & Colby”
an age appropriate machinery manufacturer from Peterborough New Hampshire - Hancock’s
neighbor on its southern border!

Not much is known about Moore and Colby and much of what is is thanks to the fact that William Barnes Bement
of Bement and Miles machine tool making fame apprenticed with M & C and may have been a short term partner
after the departure of Colby. It appears that Moore & Colby was established in 1833 - Colby selling his
share latter in the 1830s - possibly to Bement who remained but a few years - Moore selling the company
in 1848 to Morrison & Felt who continued to manufacture machinery until a fire in 1875.

Photo 1:

Comments: The lever controls forward - revers - & neutral of the rack and pinion drive. Lathes of this vintage were either chain drive or rack and pinion drive. The lead screw can be seen in the foreground.
Source:

Direct Link
IMG Code

Photo 2:

Comments: Each side of the frame supporting the cast iron ways is constructed of 8 pine laminations. In the condition evaluation I forgot to mention that only damage of note was done by me when taking it apart for the original move. The original bearing supportcro
Source:

Direct Link
IMG Code

Photo 3:

Comments: Original steady rest. Jaws off a later example.
Source:

Direct Link
IMG Code

Photo 4:

Comments: 150 + - lb weight seen hanging under the saddle was a feature of early ‘rise and fall’ lathes
Source:

Direct Link
IMG Code

Photo 5:

Comments: "M&C" stamped in the lower head stock bearing
Source:

Direct Link
IMG Code

Photo 6:

Comments: The original jack shaft featured three “Y” spoked pulleys. One fixed to the shaft and two idlers - one with a crossed belt the other a standard loop giving the jack shaft and lathe the forward and reverse needed for threading. The original bearing hanger
Source:

Direct Link
IMG Code