rbrtcrowther Posted July 13, 2009 Share Posted July 13, 2009 I bought this old clunker of a Wilson lathe about 6 years ago for £50 and have used it quiet a few times. It's better with the four jaw as the 3 jaw was of the self uncentering type, Anyway it dose what i need it to do and for £50 it can sit unused for months if it wants it owes me nothing. I noticed when i picked it up it seemed to have war department markings and numbers on it i have tried to photograph them but as it came from a boatyard that flooded on the big tides there is a 12" tide line right through the markings!! Just thought it might be ex military thats all.....Any thoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArtistsRifles Posted July 13, 2009 Share Posted July 13, 2009 (edited) Possibly not ex-mil - when I did my apprenticeship with Ford back in the 1970's a lot of the lathes in the Wheel Plant tool room had the broad arrow stamped on them together with WD markings and the legend "War standard" Edited July 13, 2009 by ArtistsRifles Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rbrtcrowther Posted July 13, 2009 Author Share Posted July 13, 2009 Ahhh..:coffee: Just wondering thats all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyFowler Posted July 13, 2009 Share Posted July 13, 2009 Well worth the fifty quid mate ! Now you can make a new centre bolt !:-D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rbrtcrowther Posted July 13, 2009 Author Share Posted July 13, 2009 Might take longer to clear all the crap off the lathe than it would to make the bolt!:-D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stormin Posted July 14, 2009 Share Posted July 14, 2009 Bit more information on Wilson lathes here: http://www.lathes.co.uk/willson/index.html and here, http://www.lathes.co.uk/willson/page5.html but no mention of military use. I know lathes were commonly fitted to ships maintenance rooms. Could be a different explanation for the tide line? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Topdog Posted July 16, 2009 Share Posted July 16, 2009 Jesus H that's a big one for personal use. I was chuffed with mine and it was only an 18 inch bed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rbrtcrowther Posted July 21, 2009 Author Share Posted July 21, 2009 The big ones are cheap cos knowone has space for them and they are a pain in the arse to move. By putting a small 3 jaw in the huge 4 jaw i can turn smaller stuff (but it's easyer to go and use my mates boxford) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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