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Rockwell Delta Wood Lathes
Pre-WW2

Rockwell/Delta Wood Lathes Post-WW2    1960s Model 14/11

Delta Metal-Turning Lathes

Almost certainly designed by Herbert Tautz (the founder, in 1919, of the Delta manufacturing Company - and a man with over 80 woodworking-associated patents to his credit) the pre-WW2 Delta Wood Lathe was a very popular US machine. Intended for serious use by the ambitious amateur, it could even be pressed into service for the lighter professional jobs. Although the bed was of very simple design, the parts clamped to it were of a generous specification, remarkably well constructed and with excellent attention to detail.
Able to be set over for taper turning when cutting metal, the tailstock had a graduated  barrel with an adjustable zero indicator and was operated by a proper, balanced, ball-ended handle. It was clamped by a proper, two-part pinch bolt (not the crude split casting employed by most competitors) and sported a proper locking handle on the bed clamp. The icing on the cake was a decent size of Morse taper, a No. 2, a sure that the makers regarded this machine as much more than just a plaything.
The basic headstock, with its overhung pulley, could be specified with either a solid spindle or bored through and threaded at both ends; a neat indexing attachment was provided as standard, allowing the spindle to be locked in any position. A bowl-turning rest, to mount to the left of the headstock, was also available.
A decent compound-slide unit, with graduated micrometer collars, was supplied for metal-turning and, rather unusually, a fixed steady was also on the options' list.
At least two, and probably more versions of the lathe were produced; the heaviest was adaptable for metal spinning and the makers offered a range of accessories to compliment this activity..

8-speed heavy-duty version set up for metal spinning on the maker's underdrive stand with simple countershaft assembly.
The lathe sat on small feet, with extra supports part way along the bed.

The basic lathes for bench mounting

2 Morse taper centres

A proper split clamp for the tailstock barrel - and a lever operating through an eccentric for the base.

Neat, adjustable zero pointer

Spindle indexing attachment with inner and outer indent holes.
This device was attached to the back of the headstock.

Metal-turning compound slide rest

Rockwell/Delta Wood Lathes Post-WW2    1960s Model 14/11

Delta Metal-Turning Lathes

Rockwell Delta Wood Lathes
Pre-WW2

email: tony@lathes.co.uk
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