The Treadle Lathe Thread # 6 - On Pg. 2

[Bill Stevener]

Hi gang,

As some of you know, I have a great interest in the world of Treadle Wood Lathes. During my research of the same, I have gathered quite an extensive collection of photos, clippings, prints and page images of the same.
I thought I would start and maintain a thread, book mark it, and post several of the photos from my collection, from time to time, for all to enjoy.

When we compare some of the newer, more modern lathes of today, with some of the lathes of yesteryear, one wonders how the turners of the past, created many of the beautiful historical works that are still around.

The first photos are of a lathe that went up for auction last year in the UK. The selling price exceeded 50,000 US. $. Thirteen were maid, all by hand, twelve are yet known to day and still in operation. This one remains in the UK.


When you think you have a time trying to figure out how your new lathe works, how long do you think it would take to learn to operate this one.
One of my favorites. Thought it would be a good one to start the Treadle Lathe Thread with.

Hope you enjoy,

Bill.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>:)

[Don Baer]

Wow Bill thats some lathe. It looks more like a metal lathe then a wood working lathe.

[Bob Noles]

Yikes Bill...... and here I thought my mini was blowing my mind :eek:

That is some very fascinating workmanship and design. I can certainly see why they have grabbed your interest.

I look forward to seeing more as you post them.

Thanks so much for sharing.

[Jim Ketron]

Now thats a work of art!
thanks for the pics Bill!

[John Hart]

Great idea for this thread Bill! An Historical viewpoint is something I crave from time to time. Wonderful first entry!:)

[Keith Burns]

Bill, thanks for the photos, very interesting. I'll never forget the one you made:) , and thats a fact:)

[Bernie Weishapl]

Wow Bill now that is a lathe. Very interesting pictures. Thanks Bill.

[Mike Ramsey]

Love the old stuff!! I'm still amazed by your Treadle Lathe Bill!!
I think about some stupid wire horse winning over that beautiful
wood lathe and it just don't compute!!

P.S. Don't mean to offend anyone by the "Stupid Horse" remark :).:)

[Curt Fuller]

That's amazing Bill. Do you own any old treadle lathes other than the beauty you built?

[Bill Stevener]

Curt, when we were living in up-state N.Y. I had a very ornate and in mint condition treadle metal lathe given to me. I found it in an old barn while on a hunt for old one lung-er engines. Pumped it for a while, sounded like an old Maytag washing machine. It now resides in a mechanical museum just out side Albany N.Y. The only one I have at present is the one I made.

Bill.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>:)

[Glenn Hodges]

This one is so complicated and beautiful it truly belongs in a museum. If a private person bought it for $50000 they like lathes more than me, and I love my Poolewood.

[Glenn Clabo]

Great idea Bill...
I think this one would be fun to use. Wouldn't have to get on that dang treadmill anymore.

[Andy Hoyt]

Awesome!

I wouldn't want to turn on that thing - for fear of getting it dirty.

[Chris Barton]

Holey Mackerel, Now That's Tool Porn!!!!

[Bill Stevener]

Not as fancy as the first one, however I always thought it was quite nice. The gentleman appears to have a nice shop and believes in one man power. He had the lathe up for sale, I don't know weather or not he ever sold it.
Hope you enjoy.
Bill.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>:)

[Pat Salter]

Those are machines for retirees :eek: , cause no one else has the time to figure them out. But I'm with Andy, afraid I'd get it dirty. Had to take out two garbage cans full of chips today. I would deffinately lose some of those parts.
Please add some more pics or links. Love them.:D

[Bill Stevener]

Those are machines for retirees :eek: , cause no one else has the time to figure them out. But I'm with Andy, afraid I'd get it dirty. Had to take out two garbage cans full of chips today. I would deffinately lose some of those parts.
Please add some more pics or links. Love them.:D

Hi Pat, if you start when you are young, at retirement age you will know how to operate it.
I placed a note in the title.
Bill.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>:)

[Bill Stevener]

Hi All,

Today's photos are examples of treadle lathes designed and built for "Left Handed Turners"
Personally, I have never experienced the feeling of turning with the wrong hand, as I am right handed.
I guess one just takes it for granted, that's the way you do it, because that's the way the lathe comes in the box.
At times I have heard form some that are left handed, say they just can't get comfortable with the lathe, or seem to be having difficulties. Why isn't the drive on the other end??
Not known to most in the turning world, the lathes we own and use, are Right handed lathes. The Head Stock, or for some trivia, a long lost term, the Poppet being on the Left as we face the lathe.
The Tail Stock Was also called a Poppet, when discussing the same, one would refer to the Head Stock and Tail Stock as the Left hand or Right Hand Poppet.

The lathe I designed, may be used by either a left or right handed turner, as it incorporates two driving fly wheels, one on each end. The poppet is then placed on the end of choice, the only one I have ever seen.
Just to design and build something different. The only thing I have never found to date is a Left Hand Spur Drive for the MT#2.

Some folks have converted old sowing machines to treadle lathes, where the fly wheel is located on the right, however I don't believe they ever considered it being a left hand lathe.

The photos below show some rarely seen lathes, they are the only ones I have, if you have any, I would love to see them.

Hope you enjoy,

Bill.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>:)

[John Hart]

Wow!
Man..I was just sitting here going over those pictures and wanting to build one!! Their simplicity is just so cool. I'm not going to be able to get this out of my head.:o wow.:)

[Bruce Page]

Bill, I'm really going to enjoy this thread, I love these old works of art!!

Could you post the pictures in a larger format size to allow for better viewing of the the beautiful details?

[Andy Fox]

Bill,

Interesting machines! Thanks for posting these photos.

Do you have plans available for the lathe you designed (and built?)? I'm unemployed right now, so I've got plenty of time for a time-consuming, low-budget project. :)

Andy

[Bill Stevener]

Hi Andy, I have all the plans for the lathe I built.
Below is the link to the page that has the link to the photos of the lathe.
You may wish to take a look and see if this is what you are looking for or what you had in mind. Will something like this be within your budget??
One can find plans by using Google, just type in treadle lathe.
Let me know what you decide.

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=21503&highlight=treadle+lathe

Bill.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>:)

[Andy Fox]

Bill, thanks for the link to the lathe post. Very impressive lathe! I'm going to have to build something more primitive than that, as it will likely exceed my ability, and definitely my budget. :eek: :) Also, with your design, I'd run into a chicken/egg problem since I don't have a lathe or know how to turn even a straight stick yet. :)

[Bill Stevener]

Just having some fun,

The first photos shows how one looks turning Right Handed.
The second photo shows how one looks turning Left Handed.

All is well, unless you look at the clock.:eek:

Now this took some doing, hope it works,

Bill.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>:)

[Keith Burns]

LOL Bill, howdyadodat ! Man I LOVE that lathe !:)

[Bill Stevener]

Hi Gang,

I thought some photos of folks demonstrating treadle lathes, they have constructed, and were so kind to share there wonderful work at various turning and club events, may be of some interest.
Some may very well know the turners in the photos, as well as, attended the events.

More of the same to come in the next post, hope you enjoy.

Bill.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>:)

[Bill Stevener]

Hi Gang,

Our good old friend and fellow turner, Mr. Keith Burns was so kind to send me a very nice and informative book. The book discusses the history, art and many of the talented turners of long ago, involved in the world of wood turning. This fine book contains a wealth of knowledge that others thought should be preserved, which makes for some very interesting reading, as well as, includes outstanding illustrations and old photos.

"A Sampling of Papers from the 1993 World Turning Conference"

If you should get a chance to find one, it is well worth obtaining and reading the same.

Thank you Keith, that was a very nice thing to do.

Now for this post on treadle lathes, I thought some old photos and clippings of the same may go well. Not from the book noted above, as it has to many coppyrights and I do not have permission at this time.

Hope you enjoy,

Bill.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>:)

[Bill Stevener]

Hi Gang,

Well it's post time. Several more photos of folks showing and demonstrating there treadle lathes at various events.

Hope you enjoy.

Bill.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>:)

[Andy Hoyt]

Thanks Bill. Stuff looks neat. I like the dichotomy in #2 between the ancient lathe and the recycled milk jugs bobbing in the lake.

[Curt Fuller]

I wonder if anyone has ever built a lathe from one those exercycles that everyone seems to have sitting around with stuff piled on it. I could probably get into a little exercise routine if I could combine it with turning.

[John Hart]

More cool stuff! I like the one that's on fire.:eek: Just kidding:) Hey Bill....Are you going to take yours on the road?

[Ernie Nyvall]

These are all very cool Bill. Is there an average rpm range. I know it starts at 0, but what can you get one up to... with out killing yourself?

Ernie

[Bill Stevener]

John, my lathe will go on exhibition the first of May until the end of June in the museum hall located in the county library. Some demonstrations will be given on Saturday afternoons. The library is having a large wood working show. I don't have any thing else planed for the summer at present, however a large show and demonstrations the end of September.

Ernie, The lathe I have has a 30" flywheel and at one pump a second it will get up to 1000 - 1050 rpm. That is comfortable. ( if your in shape)
Some of the smaller ones will do between 6 & 800 rpm. at a pump a second. Quite easy to calculate the speed if one wishes to build one. It's just figuring the flywheel size to the spindle ratio. But the big factor is the weight of the flywheel and the treadle, which will determine how fast one will tire.


This lad has a Real Big lathe.

Bill.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>:)