lathe check

How are the bearings? Check for slop.

one thing you should look at, which is non-obvious, is the threads on the spindle - are they a diameter and pitch you can buy accessories for, or are they unusual and you will be contacting guys like me to make you special ones? You want something with common threads

If they don't have bearings - maybe babot or poured lead ones... Find out.

Is the spindle (head) have Morse 2 or larger hole and how about the tail-stock.

Morse 2 on up is more readily available. Morse 1 and down is harder but possible.

Spindle threads - condition and what thread - 1" x 8 was standard for many, I have a 1" x 10 TPI - had to have a custom insert for a chuck.

The larger the better diameter wise. Look for chucks - those are handy -

Any tooling comes with it - does it have an outboard threaded spindle (reverse thread) - face plates ? one right and one left ?

Is there a free standing stand for the headstock and is there a normal tool guide ? I had to make mine.

Is it on a base ? - needs to be heavy - you can do that - sand does the trick.

Mart> Looking at a older lathe, Walker-Turner about 1950s, any input

Thanks for all the very helpful input, looks like I have some homework to do.