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Not all 12x30 lathes are created equal

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Ignoramus26563

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Feb 3, 2010, 10:23:51 AM2/3/10
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This Pratt and Whitney 12x30 lathe

http://igor.chudov.com/misc/ebay/tmp/tmp-6362.jpg

probably weighs as much as three times more than this 12x36 lathe

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=65044

And probably two times more than my 14x48" Clausing.

This is based on my guess that P&W weighs two tons.

It is coming up for a local liquidation sale.

i

Pete C.

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Feb 3, 2010, 12:55:09 PM2/3/10
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I'd love to have that lathe. I have a P&W 10" tilting rotary table and I
have to use an engine hoist or forklift to get it onto the Bridgeport
table.

Ignoramus26563

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Feb 3, 2010, 1:04:24 PM2/3/10
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This is lot 214 on this page

http://www.bidspotter.com/forms/staticgallery.php?gallery=9511&page=9

PRATT & WHITNEY 12" MODEL C/M1694 ENGINE LATH Lot: 214 : PRATT &
WHITNEY 12" MODEL C/M1694 ENGINE LATHE: S/N 601: W/32" Bed; Variable
Threads & Feeds; 4-Jaw Chuck; 3-Jaw Chuck; Tail Stock; Controls

The auction ends in 6 days or so. It is near Chicago.

I had a pratt and whitney micrometer once, it weighed about 120
lbs. (no shit)

http://yabe.algebra.com/~ichudov/misc/ebay/Pratt-Whitney-SuperMicrometer/ebayhist.html

It was actually purchased by a regular reader of rec.crafts.metalworking.

i

Ignoramus26563

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Feb 3, 2010, 1:06:55 PM2/3/10
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On 2010-02-03, Ignoramus26563 <ignoram...@NOSPAM.26563.invalid> wrote:
> On 2010-02-03, Pete C. <aux3....@snet.net> wrote:
>>
>> Ignoramus26563 wrote:
>>>
>>> This Pratt and Whitney 12x30 lathe
>>>
>>> http://igor.chudov.com/misc/ebay/tmp/tmp-6362.jpg
>>>
>>> probably weighs as much as three times more than this 12x36 lathe
>>>
>>> http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=65044
>>>
>>> And probably two times more than my 14x48" Clausing.
>>>
>>> This is based on my guess that P&W weighs two tons.
>>>
>>> It is coming up for a local liquidation sale.
>>>
>>> i
>>
>> I'd love to have that lathe. I have a P&W 10" tilting rotary table and I
>> have to use an engine hoist or forklift to get it onto the Bridgeport
>> table.
>
> This is lot 214 on this page
>
> http://www.bidspotter.com/forms/staticgallery.php?gallery=9511&page=9
>
> PRATT & WHITNEY 12" MODEL C/M1694 ENGINE LATH Lot: 214 : PRATT &
> WHITNEY 12" MODEL C/M1694 ENGINE LATHE: S/N 601: W/32" Bed; Variable
> Threads & Feeds; 4-Jaw Chuck; 3-Jaw Chuck; Tail Stock; Controls
>
> The auction ends in 6 days or so. It is near Chicago.

I also hasten to add that I saw it in person and had the impression
that it is very used.

When I asked about the tolerance that it would hold, the owner was
relatively evasive.

I would hate someone to bid on it and not see me disclose my opinion.

It may be in a better condition that my uneducated opinion suggests,
but I cannot avoid disclosing my opinion.

i

Pete C.

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Feb 3, 2010, 2:59:42 PM2/3/10
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It may well be worn, but it will also be a super well made machine
worthy of significant restoration.

I used to live in CT and spent quite a bit of time at P&W plants for
various reasons. Nothing they ever made was anything but top notch.
Indeed they made a lot of these machines so they could build their
turbines when sufficiently good machines were not readily available.

What do you think it will go for?

Ignoramus26563

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Feb 3, 2010, 3:35:22 PM2/3/10
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> It may well be worn, but it will also be a super well made machine
> worthy of significant restoration.

Here's what I know.

1. The owner told me that everything works (speeds, feeds, etc)

2. The bed surface seems to be somewhat worn, but no deep grooves like
in my old Clausing. (note that I only had a VERY cursory look).

3. The owner of the shop that is closed is a reasonable guy, you can
call him 960 North Ridge Avenue, Lombard, IL 60148-1209, (630) 426-9200
I have a feeling that he would not mind loading it on a truck for
shipping. But of course you have to talk to him.

> I used to live in CT and spent quite a bit of time at P&W plants for
> various reasons. Nothing they ever made was anything but top notch.
> Indeed they made a lot of these machines so they could build their
> turbines when sufficiently good machines were not readily available.
>
> What do you think it will go for?

Prices vary, and I have no idea, maybe between $300 and $1,000. Most
likely near $500.

Shipping will kill this deal for you.

i

Ned Simmons

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Feb 3, 2010, 3:40:10 PM2/3/10
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On Wed, 03 Feb 2010 13:59:42 -0600, "Pete C." <aux3....@snet.net>
wrote:


>
>It may well be worn, but it will also be a super well made machine
>worthy of significant restoration.
>
>I used to live in CT and spent quite a bit of time at P&W plants for
>various reasons. Nothing they ever made was anything but top notch.
>Indeed they made a lot of these machines so they could build their
>turbines when sufficiently good machines were not readily available.

The turbine manufacturer and the tool manufacturer are two different
companies that were loosely connected for a only few years in the
twenties.
http://www.prattandwhitney.com/history.htm

I'm currently working on modifications and accessories for several P&W
machines that probably date to the 1940s, but are still running
production in a modern plant.

--
Ned Simmons

Ignoramus26563

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Feb 3, 2010, 4:03:18 PM2/3/10
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On 2010-02-03, Ned Simmons <ne...@nedsim.com> wrote:
> I'm currently working on modifications and accessories for several P&W
> machines that probably date to the 1940s, but are still running
> production in a modern plant.

Is there any parts support for them?

i

Ed Huntress

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Feb 3, 2010, 4:17:29 PM2/3/10
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"Ignoramus26563" <ignoram...@NOSPAM.26563.invalid> wrote in message
news:7PmdnY0AsrULefTW...@giganews.com...

FWIW, P&W Machine Tools was acquired by Moore Products (formerly Moore
Special Tool), which in turn was acquired by Siemens. But they kept the P&W
name, although it was altered to something like "Pratt & Whitney Measurement
Systems."

I'm probably somewhat behind (what else is new?), but the company was out of
the machine tool business decades ago, and concentrated on high-end
metrology -- thus your big bench mike.

So I think it's unlikely that there is enough continuity there to have kept
the parts business up. However, it may have been picked up by someone else,
like the situation with LeBlond.

--
Ed Huntress

Wayne Cook

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Feb 3, 2010, 6:12:47 PM2/3/10
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On Wed, 03 Feb 2010 12:06:55 -0600, Ignoramus26563
<ignoram...@NOSPAM.26563.invalid> wrote:

It doesn't look nearly as used as the one I have. I can mount a
indicator on my cross slide and it will 9-11 thousands movement on the
tailstock ways when I move it up and down. However if I adjust the
tailstock right it will turn withing .001" from one end to the other.

I have to say that even as clapped out as mine is it's still the
sweetest lathe I've ever run. I'd love the have that one but getting
it here would be impossible.

Ned Simmons

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Feb 3, 2010, 7:18:17 PM2/3/10
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Not to my knowldege. One of the first things I did on these machines
was to document some of the parts that are no longer available from
the last of my customer's scrapped machines.

--
Ned Simmons

Martin H. Eastburn

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Feb 3, 2010, 10:43:31 PM2/3/10
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Looks like it would fit in a flat rate box! :-)

Martin - twice/three as heavy as my Sheldon 11-44"

Robert Swinney

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Feb 4, 2010, 10:28:14 AM2/4/10
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Martin sez:

"twice/three as heavy as my Sheldon 11-44"

Hey Martin; You're over in oil patch country; does your Sheldon have overlarge sindle bore?

Bob Swinney

Martin H. Eastburn

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Feb 5, 2010, 12:00:59 AM2/5/10
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My Sheldon 11-44 has a small bore - MT4 in place of a chuck.
I was a bit dissapointed with the bore - but Dad and I bought it in 1952
and took it home from the hardware store!! Those were the days for tools...

Yes - oil and gas is under my place - still waiting for a driller.

I think easier places are getting it first - but working the way here.
Lease but no well on my site. Slant drilling and pool rights.

I have a friend near by that has a high pressure gas well capped.
It was to much to play with when lower pressures were all around.
Now they are (oil/gas company) considering the cost of big heads
and equipment might be worth it.

Back the lathe - Have a very nice MT4 to double angle collet set - for 1" down.

Martin

Gunner Asch

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Feb 6, 2010, 8:45:21 PM2/6/10
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assuming the ways are in good condition..that would be a Lifetime lathe
for someone.

Gunner

Whenever a Liberal utters the term "Common Sense approach"....grab your
wallet, your ass, and your guns because the sombitch is about to do
something damned nasty to all three of them.

Gunner Asch

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Feb 6, 2010, 8:47:17 PM2/6/10
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On Wed, 03 Feb 2010 14:35:22 -0600, Ignoramus26563
<ignoram...@NOSPAM.26563.invalid> wrote:

Similar lathes (American) were going for between $500-1300 a week or two
ago on Ebay.

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