After planing, and mounted on its cast-iron plinths complete with chip tray, a lathe bed goes through the initial stages of being built into a complete machine with holes being put through the top surface with a radial-arm drill. The next stage was a visit to the scraping department where the ways were hand finished.
Lathe headstocks in the assembly area. In the foreground, handing from a chain block, is a "cradle", a sub-assembly containing the speed-change gears and a sleeve pinion that drove the main spindle though a multi-tooth clutch. At the second bench the cradle has been bolted into place and the main spindle can be seen partially inserted.
A complete headstock being tested on what was known in the factory as the "run-off block"; this was a device that put the headstock under a working load and allowed the inspector to assess whether any noise or vibration fell within acceptable limits.
An lathe apron in the final stages of assembly.
"After many prior inspections of individual components a screwcutting gearbox comes together as a complete unit".
