The little "Wizard" 1.75" x 6.5" 3-speed gap-bed lathe - distinguished by the use of unusual rounded mounting feet - was advertised from 1946 until the early 1950s as either the "Wizard" or "Lane" Micro-Lathe. The makers described it as the "Lathe for the Discriminating Amateur" - but even this did not stop the company eventually disappearing without trace as competition became stiffer in what was always a very limited market. The makers, C. Lane & Son of Dairy Lane, Houghton-le-Spring, Co. Durham based their factory economically in an old police station in nearby William Street .
Designed along very similar lines to the Sheffield-made Adept and Super Adept machines the Wizard had, unusually for so small a machine, a proper compound slide rest fitted as standard - though it lacked micrometer dials on the feed screws. Whilst early machines might have had a cross slide and end plate cast as one all machines so far found have had a conventional detachable plate secured by two screws. The cross slide ways were unusual and, like those on the Harrison 17-inch, were "inverted" into the top of the saddle with the gib-strip adjustment screws passing through the right-hand wall of the casting.
The spindle, bored through 9/32" carried a cast-iron 3-step pulley designed to be driven by a round leather "gut" drive; the overhung leadscrew, which ran through a solid nut on the apron, had a proper Acme thread and the cross slide carried a single front-to-back T slot. 
No. O Morse taper centres were used in headstock and tailstock, a heavy 4" faceplate was supplied to run in the 4.5" capacity gap and the tailstock was advertised as being capable of set-over for taper turning - although the example shown below does not enjoy this facility. It may be that the lathe underwent some development for the tailstock casting shown in the advertisement at the foot of the page is distinctly different to that in the photographs. The makers were proud of the lathe's performance, claiming in one advertisement that it was capable of reducing a 3/4" diameter steel bar to 1/2" "…..in one cut, genuine repeatable performance."
Although no documentary evidence exists to support the contention is likely that the optional countershaft was available in two version: one, a basic plain unit that bolted to the bench without any form of belt adjustment and another, shown below, that used the same vertical bench unit but mounted in a heavy cast-iron bracket and fitted with an over-centre tensioning lever.
Unlike many maker's of small lathes Lane & Son were not afraid to cast a brand name into the bed and details of their address on a transfer affixed to the saddle front. Although "Wizard" was used on beds there is no evidence that "Lane" was ever employed - and it is believed that some were also sold (perhaps through a supplying agent) bereft of identity. The lathe was also advertised in 1953 as the 'Portable Home Workshop' and shown (in what must have been one of the last advertisements) complete with a neat countershaft, motor and switch all screwed to a heavy base board. The lathe could be had for £10 : 3s : 2d., the countershaft £2 : 4s : 0d. a 0.25 h.p. 1-phase motor £5 : 0s : 0d. and a 2.25-inch diameter 4-jaw independent chuck £1 : 18s : 6d.
The maker's motto was: "The little Lathe that is a little different".

A view showing the construction of the two-part countershaft. The vertical section could be had as a separate, cheaper unit. The cross slide ways were unusual and, like those on the Harrison 17-inch, were "inverted" into the top of the saddle with the gib-strip adjustment screws passing through the right-hand wall of the casting.