Photo Index - W. F. & John Barnes Co. - Barnes #6 Metal Lathe

Machinery Photo Index

Manufactured/Badged by:
W. F. & John Barnes Co.
Rockford, IL.

Machine Specifications
Machine Class:	Metal Working Machinery
Machine Type:	Lathe, Metal
Machine Size:	12x44
Submitted By:	Don Lane

Machine Specifications
Description/Model:	Barnes #6 Metal Lathe
Date of Manufacturer:	1880
Serial Number:
Last Updated	7/9/2023 6:25:15 AM

Comments:

Acquired this lathe for a very reasonable price for a machining project I'm working on that was too long for my main lathe. The gentleman that I purchased if from said that he had it for about 25 years, but never did anything with it, and now needed the space. I had no idea that the lathe was around 140 years old until I got it home and started doing some research.

It is in excellent condition for as old as it is. Has a nearly complete set of change gears. It appears that this was a line shaft machine. There are bolt holes on the legs for the velocipede mechanism, but there seems to be no wear on the holes. There's a 4 step cone pulley countershaft that looks factory, but I'm not certain of that. At some point an electric motor was added with a v-belt to the countershaft. It has a gear driven lead screw, and a belt driven shaft splined shaft. The bearings in the headstock are nice and tight with no slop at all. There is some wear on the ways and the cross slide, but not terribly bad. At some point in the past somebody gouged out under the chuck -- I'm guessing to run something that was a little over capacity. The chuck is a 3 jaw, secured to the spindle by 3 bolts. Not sure if that spindle and/or chuck is original or not. One of the studs for mounting the change gears on the banjo is broken, so I'll be doing a little machining to make another one.

I don't have a manual for it, so if somebody has one and is willing to share a copy I would greatly appreciate it. I'd also like to find a steady rest, although I'll probably make one. I would also like to possibly add the geared velocipede mechanism. There not being many surviving, I'd be happy if someone who has one would allow me to come and take pictures, and make measurements and drawings. It isn't a priority since the lathe is perfectly usable as is, but it would be a fun thing to do. I would also be interested in any information that anyone is willing to share.

Photo 1:

Comments: Barnes #6 Lathe
Source: Don Lane

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