Photo Index - Peter A. Frasse & Co. - The Briggs Lathe No 1

Machinery Photo Index

Manufactured/Badged by:
Peter A. Frasse & Co.
New York, NY

Machine Specifications
Machine Class:	Wood Working Machinery
Machine Type:	Lathe, Wood
Machine Size:	6 inch X 12 inches
Submitted By:	Ed Hobbs

Machine Specifications
Description/Model:	The Briggs Lathe No 1
Date of Manufacturer:	ca 1880
Serial Number:
Last Updated	3/27/2006 12:09:48 AM

Comments:

The Briggs Lathe No 1 was listed in several catalogs from companies that distributed tools and machinery in the 1880?s. Among these were Jackson & Tyler of Baltimore, Frasse & Co of New York City and the John Wilkinson Co of Chicago. All of these ads read the same.

Lathes of this size (could turn up to about 6 inches in diameter by 12 inches or more long) were fairly common with the Briggs being one of the most expensive. You could buy the Briggs No 1 Lathe alone for about $15.00 where the others were in the $9 to $11 range. Mounted on a bench with iron legs and a walnut top with treadle power from a driving wheel added $10 to the price. Several dealers also offered a ?No 1 Lathe? that looked very much like the Briggs but could take work up to 20 inches in length at a price for the lathe alone of $11.00.

The Briggs No 1 was very well made and finished thus living up to the claim in its ad of ?A lathe that combines superior excellence in quality and finish with beauty and strength.? It was painted a gray color with red pin striping, which resembles that used by W. F. & John Barnes on their foot powered machinery.

These lathes appear to be uncommon with only a very few examples of the lathe alone known to exist. No examples of the lathe, bench and foot power are known to me. Close examination of one of the lathes does not show any markings other than the name, which is cast into the front of the bed. There does not appear to be any other information such as patent references or location of manufacturing. To my knowledge, the name ?Briggs? does not appear on any other similar type machinery.

With a higher price, less length capacity and the company not appearing to offer related tools such as a scroll saw, it can be understood why this lathe likely was of a limited production with few examples know to exist. Also, since converting the lathe to run using an electric motor by simply replacing the original headstock pulley with a more modern pulley would be easy and result in a lathe that still could be used, it can be understood why the bench and foot powered parts would have been discarded many years ago.

When purchased, this lathe had been converted to run from an electric motor and had a 3 stage "V belt" pulley on the headstock. A replacement will be made to restore it to its original look.

Additional information on The Briggs Lathe No 1 is being posted on this site which includes a copy of an ad from about 1880 for the lathe.

Photo 1:

Comments: Full view of lathe
Source: Ed's digital camera

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Photo 2:

Comments: Closeup of name and pin striping
Source: Ed's digital camera

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