The Wade Overhead Countershaft is a good example of how complex and expensive lathe drive systems used to be before the development of compact, built-on drive units. The drive system started with an under-slung motor and an attendant pulley system which drove up to a large "fast-and-loose" pulley system carried on flamboyant cast-iron columns above the lathe - a similar arrangement can be seen here driving an 8A Toolmaker's lathe. Foot-operated pedals controlled the sliding of the belt from the "loose" idle pulley to the "fast" drive pulley - whilst a second drive, from the right-hand side of the underneath countershaft, gave a higher range of speeds. A third drive, again "fast-and-loose" pulley controlled, but from a twisted belt, produced reverse.
The whole mass of cast iron, bearings, hanger brackets, belts, pedals, wires, belt-shifters, nuts, bolts, screws and washers provided just six forward speeds in geometric progression from 200 to 1750 rpm - and three in reverse.