E-MAIL   tony@lathes.co.uk
lathes.co.uk Home Page    Machine Tool Archive    Machine Tools For Sale & Wanted   
Machine Tool Manuals   Machine Tool Catalogues   Belts

Unlisted PULTRA Lathes
Pultra Home Page  Early "P" Models  Drive Systems  Slide Rests  Grinding/Milling Spindle
Unlisted   15/90 Lathe   Accessories Vertical Slides  Women's Work  Radius Grinder   
Pultra Grinder   Watchmakers' Lathes   Model 17/50 Photo Essay   17/70 Capstan

At the top of the page, and carrying what seems to be a War Office contract number this Pultra accepts what seems to be a standard compound slide rest and other accessories--but is of otherwise rather different design. A simple cantilever WW-type bed was used with the headstock spindle driven by an overhung pulley on its left-hand end. This type of drive system was also used on the 17/50 and Series 17/70 models - but with the pulley hidden under extensions to the headstock casting. It's just possible that this is a development machine, made to test the concept. Even the compound slide rest was different, though the micrometer dials were recognisably "Pultra".
Lower down the page is what appears to be a genuine Pultra lathe using a watchmakers' lathe bed. However, it is much more likely that it's just the headstock, slide rest and tailstock from a Pultra mounted on the bed of one of the many unbranded WW (Webster Whitcombe) lathes manufactured before 1945.
As the Model P Pultra was made to the WW standard the writer has seen many instances of parts from several makers included in a kit of second-hand parts - all the major components were interchangeable on the standard-form bed.

Included in the fitted accessory box are raiser blocks for headstock and tailstock

The upwards pointing arrow denotes a product made for the services - and does the lettering indicate machine number 25 constructed in June, 1937 ?

Although this might appear to be a genuine Pultra lathe, the chances are that it's lust the headstock, slide rest and tailstock mounted on the bed of one of the many unbranded WW (Webster Whitcombe) lathes manufactured before 1945.
As the Model P Pultra was made to the WW standard the writer has seen many instances of parts from several manufactures included in a lathe kit - all the major components were interchangeable on the standard-form bed.