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Craftsman, Companion & Dunlap
Wood-turning Lathes 1933 - 1943  page 4 of 4
Conversion Kit to Metal-turning Lathe
Click Here: Page 2   Page 3   Page 4
Craftsman Wood Home   Sears, Roebuck Wood Lathes 1920 - 1932   
Wood Lathes 1933 - 1943    Wood Lathes 1947 - 1966

In 1935 the first Craftsman wood-turning lathe with the option of a metal-turning kit was marketed. With many similarities to the company's metal turning lathe (made by Atlas) this was a very different machine in comparison with the cheaper lathes in the range.
The kit was very comprehensive and included a leadscrew, changewheels, tumble reverse assembly, a proper carriage, compound slide rest and complete backgear assembly - that, in conjunction with the 8-speed countershaft, gave the lathe 16 speeds  from a low of 28 to a high of 2540 rpm. The only snag was that, by the time the complete kit was purchased and fitted, the price exceeded that of the contemporary metal-turning lathe by at least 50%.

1935 12-inch wood-turning lathe fitted with the complete metal-lathe conversion kit.

Wood-turning lathe headstock equipped with backgear to provide low speeds for large-diameter metal turning and screwcutting.

Part of the Screwcutting Attachment - the changewheels, guard and electrical switch.

Fixed steady (with, surprisingly, screw-feed fingers) and the dial-thread indicator.

The rest of the screwcutting conversion - twin-arm banjo to carry the changewheels, tumble-reverse mechanism and the left-hand leadscrew hanger bracket and leadscrew itself.

The full carriage for the conversion to a metal lathe.
A choice of two slide rests was offered - a simple cross slide and combined tool post, or a compound slide rest - illustrated below.

The two tool slides which fitted the full carriage model.
Top: the compound slide with swivelling top slide.
Below: the simple cross slide with integral tool post.

Countershaft unit with adjustable motor platform.

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E-MAIL   tony@lathes.co.uk


Craftsman, Companion & Dunlap
Wood-turning Lathes 1933  - 1943 
page 4 of 4
Conversion Kit to Metal-turning Lathe
Click Here: Page 2   Page 3   Page 4
Craftsman Wood Home   Sears, Roebuck Wood Lathes 1920 - 1932   
Wood Lathes 1933 - 1943    Wood Lathes 1944 - 1966