Photo Index - Shepard, Lathe & Co. - 13' long chain driven carriage

Machinery Photo Index

Manufactured/Badged by:
Shepard, Lathe & Co.
Worcester, MA

Machine Specifications
Machine Class:	Metal Working Machinery
Machine Type:	Lathe, Metal
Machine Size:	12"
Submitted By:	Clay MacWhirter

Machine Specifications
Description/Model:	13' long chain driven carriage
Date of Manufacturer:	~1850s
Serial Number:
Last Updated	10/29/2021 10:53:25 PM

Comments:

This lathe belongs to a friend who saved it from the scrap man. I took some lineshafting out of an old shop including this lathe's countershaft, so naturally the current owner of the lathe tracked me down. The story that I understand is that this lathe was in a factory in Vankleek Hill Ontario, until the factory closed due to fire and economic reasons around 1915. This lathe was taken to a smaller gas engine driven shop where it was used to turn balcony support posts. When this shop sold, it was purchased but never used and set outside where it sunk about a foot into the ground. Through the grapevine the current owner heard it was destined for scrap, so he saved it.
This is the earliest metalworking lathe I've seen, being chain driven. A rope-drive stepped pulley transmits power to a worm which is threaded both directions on the same shaft. Arms that run along the front of the bed engage/disengage and determine direction of the carriage, much like modern lathes. The back-gear slides, and is held in place by wedges and bolts. The lubrication consists of tapered holes with tapered weight-plugs that push the grease/ heavy oil downwards. The wooden stepped pulley is rotten, but matches the wooden pulley on the countershaft.

Photo 1:

Comments: Headstock with wooden step pulleys
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Photo 2:

Comments: Angled view of whole 13 footer
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Photo 3:

Comments: Plaque
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Photo 4:

Comments: Carriage
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Photo 5:

Comments: Back gears
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Photo 6:

Comments: Tailstock
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