interesting old multi-speed lathe

That would be an interesting item in a wood turning shop. It would be ideal in an old mill shop that the power was taken from a water wheel that drives the shaft. Belt off the shaft to any other shaft and then to a machine...

Mart>

wind driven lathe would be unique

you think it is a single purpose lathe that is interesting it looks like a production lathe for sure

would those bat lathes be single speed

I have no idea about speed... I would think that most people would turn at a higher speed than that would sand at... Just looks to me like it was used for bats or columns some kind...

i would not want to change speeds often looks like it would take some time to do

the length is right for long spindles but i do not see a long tool rest which is what i would expect for making bats

nice lathe but a lot of work to install that into a shop probably loud too with those belts

t could be the full length of a bat or table leg spindles or banisters etc

Flat belts in good trim are not overly noisy, nor particularly difficult to change speeds on. Looks to be one of the "Pair of wooden beam" bed variants. Seller is evidently prouder of the motor than the lathe as there's no readable shot of the headstock badge (if any).

I have a couple similar 1880's lathes, though with cast iron beds - one metal-oriented, the other a pattern-makers which bears evidence of also being used for metal-spinning.

i thought the bed had a light patina of rust in that one shot never thought it was wood but now i see that it is wood it is a beautiful lathe

do the belts ever break or come off

They don't last forever, of course, but they last a good long time.

If the pulleys are properly aligned they don't come off unless you ask them to.

i was thinking about a broken belt and where it would end up

i just would not want to find out

looking more at that lathe it is a really nice one for that vintage it seems to me that it has been well cared for