Although the Benson plain-turning precision lathes were loosely based on the screwcutting model, the conversion was properly engineered and included a simpler bed with a cross section more suited to accurately holding a bolt-down compound slide rest. Note the use of 4 screws to hold the cross-slide end plate, a method also used by some American precision bench lathe makers including Pratt & Whitney.
A screwcutting version, illustrated below, kept the bevelled-edged bed and through-bolt fastening for the compound slide. The compound slide-rest clamping bolt must have been slackened to permit a sliding feed to the carriage, but just how this setting was made and maintained. is not clear. The spindle and its cast-steel bearings, like those on all the company's other lathes, were hardened and ground with the spindle thread finished in situ after assembly to ensure absolute concentricity.