Photo Index - F. E. Reed & Co. - Bench model

Machinery Photo Index

Manufactured/Badged by:
F. E. Reed & Co.
Worcester, MA

Machine Specifications
Machine Class:	Wood Working Machinery
Machine Type:	Lathe, Wood
Machine Size:	10" swing, 30" btwn centers
Submitted By:	Paul Hubbman

Machine Specifications
Description/Model:	Bench model
Date of Manufacturer:	1890 - 1910?
Serial Number:	689
Last Updated	11/12/2015 5:00:10 PM

Comments:

This lathe was set up for light production at Knight Machinery in St. Louis until it was discarded. My Dad retrieved it from the dumpster, and it sat in his workshop for decades. I remember it there when I was a kid growing up. Sometime around 2010 he gave it to me. In early 2015 I found an identical, but thoroughly worn out lathe that had some of the parts mine was missing, so I pillaged the tool rest/banjo assembly and the tail stock locking assembly to use on mine. The serial number on that lathe (705) was just 16 digits off of mine, so I assume they are very close in age.

It has a 1-1/8" x 12tpi spindle thread and #2 Morse taper in both the head and tail stocks. The spindle runs on sleeve bearings made of compressed babbit, and it uses a solid bronze thrust bearing. My Dad added the Lunkenheimer drip oiler (size OO) to the headstock. The bearings are smooth with no play, the bed/ways seem to be in great condition, and there's no sign of wear or abuse. It looks like it was well maintained and lightly used. Not that there are many of these FE Reed lathes out there, but this is the only one I've seen with the bench mount legs.

Photo 1:

Comments: Overall "before" shot with tooling
Source: me

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Photo 2:

Comments: Close up. Some parts, like the tool rest lock knob are not original
Source: me

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Photo 3:

Comments: Badge
Source: me again

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Photo 4:

Comments: Stubby legs are 6" tall
Source: me me me

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Photo 5:

Comments: Tailstock - i think the crank knob is a replacement
Source: me

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