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Home Machine Tool Archive Lathes for Sale
E-MAIL Tony@lathes.co.uk
Stark Lathes - The Model Range
Stark Home Page Stark Model Range Special Applications Slide Rests & Toolholders
Automatic Staff lathe Accessories Drive Systems Stark Millers
Stark Lathes 1950s Wheel & Pinion Cutters Damaskeening Machine
EARLY STARK LATHES Stark Watchmakers' Lathes No. 4 Lathe Photographs
The range of Precision Bench lathes consisted of six different models based around four different beds and headstocks:
No. 2 - 16" or 22" long bed with 6" or 12" between centres, a 57/8" swing and a collet capacity of 0.25"
No. 3 - a 32" long bed with 18" between centres, a 7" swing and a collet capacity of 0.375"
No. 31/2 - same size as the No. 3, but with a reduced collet capacity of 0.5"
No. 4 - a 38" bed with 20" between centres, a 9" centre height and a collet capacity of 0.75"
No. 41/2 - identical to the No. 4 but with an increased collet capacity of 1"
No. 5 - the largest lathe in the range with a 40" bed, 20" between centres, a swing of 12" and a collet capacity of 1.25"
Collets:
Allowing for the fact that many Stark lathes would have been supplied with headstock spindles adapted to take a customer's already-in-use collet sets the following guide should be accurate:
Stark 3 lathe collets (marked 3SS) had a maximum through bore of 0.375", a shank of 0.590" and a thread of 0520" x 26 t.p.i.
Stark 31/2 lathes collets (marked 32S) took round material to a maximum diameter of 0.5", square to 11/32" and hexagon to 7/16". The collet shanks were 0.703" in diameter with a 0.698" x 24 t.p.i. thread and an overall length of 2.565".
Stark 4 lathe collets (Marked 4S) had a maximum bore ¾", a shank diameter of 0.998" and a thread of 0.993" x 20 t.p.i
Stark collets all have a head angle of 5 degrees whilst another useful identifying feature is mark (not always presnt) "STCo".
Even without its maker's name plate a Stark lathe is easy to recognise - the feet on the double pedestal models being a distinctive elliptical shape.
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Stark No. 2 "Manufacturing Lathe" - a small cantilever-bed machine supplied with either a 16" or 22" long bed with 6" and 12" between centres respectively. The swing was 57/8" swing the maximum collet capacity 0.25". This accurate bench lathe was capable of being converted to light manufacturing use and was also available with a supporting foot at the tailstock end of the bed when heavy-duty use was envisaged.
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Stark No. 3, 31/2, 4 and 41/2 Bench Lathe with compound slide rest. This 1920s machine has a screw-feed tailstock barrel which was fully supported by the surrounding casting even at the extremes of its travel.
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Stark No. 5 Bench Lathe with compound slide rest. A much heavier lathe for larger precision jobs.
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Stark No. 3 Spring-bind lathe for rapid collet work. The headstock pulley could be stopped - and the collet opened - by a single movement on a foot-operated pedal.
This early "production" system is still in use today for small batch work and offered by the American firm of Derbyshire on their range of precision lathes.
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Stark No. 3, 31/2, 4 and 41/2 Bench Lathe with an Automatic Turret (with six independently adjustable tool depth stops) a Lever-operated Collet Closer and a Cut-off and Forming Slide Rest.
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Stark No. 5 Screw Machine (capstan)- the largest model in the range - with a 40" long bed offering 20" between centres and a swing of 12"
Designed for the manufacture of screws and bolts with a through collet capacity of 1.25"
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A photograph of a Stark which hints at the superb finish of the original machines. If anyone has a set of pictures of a well-finished Stark of any age or size, the writer would be very interested to hear from you.
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