Anyone into old metal lathes or know someone that is?

[cabmandone]

My dad is cleaning out the barn. He has had this lathe since the late 80's. I know the lathe is old, but I don't know just how old. From my research I think it's from the 1920's.

The lathe was made by The Bradford Machine Tool Co. in Cincinnati OH. I don't know where the serial number is located. I need to get the beast out of his barn, into the light and cleaned up. It runs on an old 220v 1ph electric motor. That's about all I know about the thing. The pic below is a similar tool. I think my dad's has a few more options as there are a few levers on the left side of the machine that the pictured machine doesn't have.

Any input would be appreciated. He's talking about scrapping the beast but I feel that would be a waste of a really cool piece. When I get it cleaned up, I can post a pic.

[sc_rufctr]

I'm absolutely certain there are people who live near your father that would pay good money for a vintage lathe like the one pictured.
Please ask him not to just scarp it. Get it outside, give it a good power wash then dry and oil it.

They have a real following among the amateur machine shop operators because the new options are generally Chinese or Taiwanese made.
A professional Asian made lathe is good but you have to "complete" a cheap hobby lathe. (re-scrape the beds etc)

The one really good thing about your father's lathe is that it's not big. It looks like the perfect size for hobby use.

[cabmandone]

I'm going to post it on FB marketplace and CL to see what interest there is. I've stumbled across a few sites that deal with vintage lathes. I might have to join a few and post pics of it but that's difficult due to all the scammers. Folks don't trust one or two post users posting a piece for sale.

I plan to wash it with my hot water washer and then oil it.

[LWJ]

Well, my Dad (85) seems to have cornered the old lathe market.

Probably talk for hours with your Dad.

No, I don’t want it. But there will certainly be people that do.

I’m not looking forward to cleaning out his shop.

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by LWJ

Well, my Dad (85) seems to have cornered the old lathe market.

Probably talk for hours with your Dad.

No, I don’t want it. But there will certainly be people that do.

I’m not looking forward to cleaning out his shop.

The funny thing is, my dad is a farm drainage tile guy. He doesn't have an ounce of machinist is his blood. He bought it way back when because he thought it would be fun. My oldest brother has used it more than my dad has. I just think it's a cool piece of history.

[Steve F]

That looks a lot like a Hendey lathe:<) That is worth $800 plus to the right person.

[dad911]

Originally Posted by cabmando

I'm going to post it on FB marketplace and CL to see what interest there is. I've stumbled across a few sites that deal with vintage lathes. I might have to join a few and post pics of it but that's difficult due to all the scammers. Folks don't trust one or two post users posting a piece for sale.

I plan to wash it with my hot water washer and then oil it.

Join a few facebook machinist groups. I've sold on:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/359355585198510
https://www.facebook.com/groups/772213566182115

A few years ago that was scrap, now i'd guess about $1000.

It's a barn find, don't bother cleaning it.

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by dad911

Join a few facebook machinist groups. I've sold on:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/359355585198510
https://www.facebook.com/groups/772213566182115

A few years ago that was scrap, now i'd guess about $1000.

It's a barn find, don't bother cleaning it.

Thanks! That's a big help. I was thinking $800-$1000.

[herr_oberst]

Too bad Zeke dropped off the forum again; he just bought and is restoring a cool old lathe.

[MBAtarga]

Put an ad over on Garage Journal with a few pictures. It will sell there for certain.

[dad911]

Originally Posted by cabmando

Thanks! That's a big help. I was thinking $800-$1000.

Are we even now? I mentally thank you every time I tilt my trailer......

I sold a grizzly lathe for a couple of hundred over what I paid, and guys were fighting over it. At least 30 facebook responses. Prices on mills and lathes are crazy high, yet woodworking equipment is low. I don't get it.

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by dad911

Are we even now? I mentally thank you every time I tilt my trailer......

I sold a grizzly lathe for a couple of hundred over what I paid, and guys were fighting over it. At least 30 facebook responses. Prices on mills and lathes are crazy high, yet woodworking equipment is low. I don't get it.

LOL! Yep we're square.

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

Too bad Zeke dropped off the forum again; he just bought and is restoring a cool old lathe.

Didn't know he disappeared.

[charlesbahn]

Be sure to gather up all the bits and pieces- sometimes small parts or the tooling (steady rest, collets, taper attachment, etc are individually worth more than the lathe; or at least increase its desirability.

Problem with these is the weight and shipping costs. Good tool if someone wants it locally.

Charles

[devodave]

From the photo, that looks to be in great shape! 14" 5 step cone Bradford, circa 1919!

http://www.vintagemachinery.org/pubs/2316/26432.pdf

Bradford Machine Tool Co. - Publication Reprints - 14-inch Quick Change Gear Lathe | VintageMachinery.org

You might find a few buyers in OH. Since its not a very large lathe, it is more desirable to home machinists. But parts might be tough to find and it is 100 years old! So surely a collector item. The $800-$1000 estimate is probably very accurate.

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by charlesbahn

Be sure to gather up all the bits and pieces- sometimes small parts or the tooling (steady rest, collets, taper attachment, etc are individually worth more than the lathe; or at least increase its desirability.

Problem with these is the weight and shipping costs. Good tool if someone wants it locally.

Charles

This is EXACTLY what I was telling my dad. There's a bunch of "bits and pieces" that I think will come close to matching the value of the lathe itself. He has three different heads for the lathe (Why? I have no idea) then there are the Jacobs Portomatic chucks and one large Jacobs 18N. Too many bits to count and I don't know what they are so I'm looking into those as well.

Originally Posted by devodave

From the photo, that looks to be in great shape! 14" 5 step cone Bradford, circa 1919!

http://www.vintagemachinery.org/pubs/2316/26432.pdf

Bradford Machine Tool Co. - Publication Reprints - 14-inch Quick Change Gear Lathe | VintageMachinery.org

You might find a few buyers in OH. Since its not a very large lathe, it is more desirable to home machinists. But parts might be tough to find and it is 100 years old! So surely a collector item. The $800-$1000 estimate is probably very accurate.

That's not the actual lathe but the one we have is similar. I need to get it out to get some pics. I think ours has more options than the one pictured.
The history of it is why I'm working hard so that my dad doesn't scrap the thing. I think it's too cool and too old to just destroy it. I'll bring it to my barn to store it before I'll let him scrap it.

[charlesbahn]

Could probably part it out for that 800-1000; could sell the headstock, cross slide, apron, tailstock, bed and maybe the stand separately on eBay if no one wants to pick up or ship the whole tamale.

Again, little things like tool holders and cutters, hand held burnishers/polishers, cut offs for that lathe are also separately desirable.

Charles

[cabmandone]

I appreciate the input Charles!
I'm going to take my time and really study this thing so I know what I'm doing when I offer it for sale. I had this learning curve when I parted out my engine/transmission donor car for my 911. It all takes time and learning the lingo. Again, appreciate the information.

[charlesbahn]

Ebay is your friend here, you can easily find what all the parts are and their approx value. Just search "metal lathe." If you yourself like to make things, you might ought to keep it and learn to use it. You would be amazed what it can do.

Charles

[herr_oberst]

Spring isn't the best time to start watching, but if you want to spend some enjoyable time watching a master machinist build a model of a vintage lathe, watch this series.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlcNR215TFY

This was built over a period of months from a kit full of raw castings and bare stock.
It's probably about 7, 8" long. The chuck is about as big as a quarter and it has working jaws.

[cabmandone]

I've identified some of the tools. I have a bunch of reamers made by Scully Jones & Co. Some are tapered shaft, some are for hand reaming with a square drive tool and many are straight shank for a drill chuck. Now I just have to search to figure out approximate value!

Correction! The tapered shaft are made by Chicago Latrobe as are the ones with the square drive.