Lathe with 3 Ford transmissions in Iowa

[Yoyodyne]

I've seen all sorts of transmission lashups for powering old lineshaft machines. This one caught my eye because it was done well and has 3 transmissions in series.
Thought this would be interesting here. Can you identify the transmissions?

It's in Iowa, and can be had for the removal. Here's a link to more photos -https://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/antique-machinery-and-history/large-older-lodge-shipley-available-378904/

[FlatheadTed]

Interesting rig looks like Ford boxes ,

[Tinker]

Bring a forklift. I'd like to have an old mill. Have the room. Cool post.

[Kurt in NJ]

Looks like 60Hp transmissions

[cas3]

thats pretty cool!! i have a very old, big lodge&shipley , 16x60 that went thru my fire in 2010. it was my first lathe, in about 1980 or so. wore out and broken handles from being tipped over in a move, but by golly i was somebody having a lathe. made lots of stuff, learned a lot, and therefore did not have the heart to scrap it after the fire. i'll post a pic tomorrow

[V8COOPMAN]

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Originally Posted by Kurt in NJ

Looks like 60Hp transmissions

The one on the right, next to the motor, looks like a "60". DD

[frnkeore]

In 1976, I bought a 16 x 30 Lodge & Shipley, "tool Room" lathe. The 16, is deceiving. It would actually chuck a little over 18 1/2". It came with a collet chuck and collets, had a taper attachment and a special device, you set for the number of threads you want to cut. With that, you didn't have to line the threading dial up, before you engaged the half nuts. Although it was a flat belt drive, with a Lima Drive, it was a excellent lathe.

I sold it about 1989 but, as I remember it, this lathe looks a lot like a Lodge & Shipley. I look forward to seeing Cas3's pictures.

[Mart]

I love that setup. A real piece of history. The job looks to be very well done. The front trans does appear to be smaller, so one would assume V8-60 as stated above. 3rd trans in the train has a slanted top so 32-36 (is it 36?) middle one looks like big trans with upright shifter so probably 37 up.

It's a big old machine. If it were closer and I had the space I'd be on my way already.

[Ol' Ron]

WOW!!! My old Flather 18" lathe had a Dodge truck trans on it. Drove the lathe fron the emergengy brake drum.
Gramps

[fordwife]

How many speeds ahead of the cone pulley? I figure 28. 3x3x3 equals 27, plus any 2 put in reverse would give you a very slow forward speed. Are there more combinations?

[Mart]

The ratios depend if the 1st and 2nd gears in all 3 have the same ratios. They probably don't as the first trans is smaller so probably lower first gear.

Some ratios may be duplicated so probably not 28 different ratios. Probably a good ratio spread between all 3 in low and all 3 in top.

[corvette8n]

I remember my Uncle having a doodlebug with 2 transmissions, I think it was built on a model "A" frame, he used it for a large garden.

[cas3]

here's my big ol' lodge & shipley. it has no numbers on the dials, only hash marks. i was told that dates it to pre ww1. made for a line shaft but i built the "tower of power" i called it to mount the motor. it was a lot of work and really a failure of sort. something was out of balance on the upper shaft and the whole tower would wiggle a bit sometimes showing up in the part you were working on. included is a pic of my burned up grinder station. reason is, that is what the big lathe will become. i have in my new shop a metal chop saw, a radial arm saw, and a wood chop saw all mounted in a row in that order that when built all the back stops and table tops were all set perfectly square and level. as the years have passed, they have settled and moved so they no longer line up. plan is to mount them all on the bed of the lathe which will not move, with room left for a grinder station too. and lastly, my old shop, now known as "the bomb crater". this was an old car wash i got for taking it down. put it up and added on to it, all steel, even made a third truss to extend the length. spray foam insulated for minnesota winters. i had quite the shop for a young man in his 20's, but i was a go getter back then, not so much any more. i retired this spring, so my new job is to clean up this mess so i can move out of the frozen swamp

[D. Jones]

I've run several lathes and a radial drill press that used transmissions to change speed but that one beats anything I've seen. I tried to post a picture of a 32"x 144" Lodge & Shipley that I've put quite a few hours on but the picture wont upload. It uses a very large electric motor with an attached transmission. Looks like it must be some sort of factory unit that was made to adapt the old line shaft flat belt drive. It's a little big for watch repair but does yeoman service in the railroad shop.

Thanks to member (Frnkeore) I can post the picture now. I don't know how old this Lodge & Shipley is but you can see the flat belt cones. I was intent on getting a picture of my helper Bob rather than the transmission electric motor drive. The lathe resides in the back shop of the Sumpter Valley Railroad near Baker City, Oregon.

[Tinker]

Originally Posted by cas3

here's my big ol' lodge & shipley. it has no numbers on the dials, only hash marks. i was told that dates it to pre ww1. made for a line shaft but i built the "tower of power" i called it to mount the motor. it was a lot of work and really a failure of sort. something was out of balance on the upper shaft and the whole tower would wiggle a bit sometimes showing up in the part you were working on. included is a pic of my burned up grinder station. reason is, that is what the big lathe will become. i have in my new shop a metal chop saw, a radial arm saw, and a wood chop saw all mounted in a row in that order that when built all the back stops and table tops were all set perfectly square and level. as the years have passed, they have settled and moved so they no longer line up. plan is to mount them all on the bed of the lathe which will not move, with room left for a grinder station too. and lastly, my old shop, now known as "the bomb crater". this was an old car wash i got for taking it down. put it up and added on to it, all steel, even made a third truss to extend the length. spray foam insulated for minnesota winters. i had quite the shop for a young man in his 20's, but i was a go getter back then, not so much any more. i retired this spring, so my new job is to clean up this mess so i can move out of the frozen swamp

neat stuff. It'd be fun to save this one.

[50fordcoupeman]

Originally Posted by fordwife

How many speeds ahead of the cone pulley? I figure 28. 3x3x3 equals 27, plus any 2 put in reverse would give you a very slow forward speed. Are there more combinations?

Hmmmm........I think there are more like 48.

[TagMan]

Couple of pics of a small Brainerd horizontal mill (ca. 1905-1915) I had up to a few years ago when I donated it to the Transportation Museum in Rochester, NY. Someone in the past had nicely added a Model A transmission which was used as a speed changer. Worked quite well.

mill2 by TagMan, on Flickr
mill1 by TagMan, on Flickr
mill3 by TagMan, on Flickr

[NealinCA]

Originally Posted by TagMan

Couple of pics of a small Brainerd horizontal mill (ca. 1905-1915) I had up to a few years ago when I donated it to the Transportation Museum in Rochester, NY. Someone in the past had nicely added a Model A transmission which was used as a speed changer. Worked quite well.

That's one of the cleanest transmission conversions that I've seen on a machine tool. Looks like it belonged there.

Back to the lathe with 3 transmissions. Are those large brake drums that they used as bellhousing adapters on the second two transmissions?

[Mart]

Hi Neal, I wondered if they were brake drums but I can't figure how they got those bolts around the outside. Not sure.

mart.

[frnkeore]

cas3, the head stock and basic size and shape of the carriage looks like the Lodge that I had but, mine must have been newer. It had a actual hand wheel for the carriage not a crank and a quick change box for threading, as well as the tool room features.

D.Jones, send your pictures to [email protected] and I'll post them for you. I'd like to see it.

I have a antique Warner Swasey turret lathe. I think it comes from the early 1900's. I bought it at a auction. I was told that it has a Model A trans on it. It's a little unique and has the trans mounted under the bed. I'll take some pictures, this afternoon and post them.

[fordwife]

As for the holes in the brake drums, this would be no problem for the average machinist, just set it up concentric and drill the holes.

[Fordestes]

I just made the deal for the lathe with the 3 transmissions , all I am waiting on is a confirmation from my hired help if they are willing to travel , I am checking right now to secure a winch truck or heavy duty wrecker to load it , I am thinking a couple of goose neck trailers would do the job, that particular machine weighs close to 6,600 pounds without the transmissions, I may have to dis assemble it as to avoid overloading one trailer, I may have to put the touch on my relatives to haul it in one piece, only problem they only run dry box and no flatbed trailers. I will take some pictures and post , there are some obstacles as to getting it out of the building like 90 degree turns etc. I normally use pipe as rollers like the ancient Egyptians did when they built the pyramids. we will see what happens!

[cas3]

glad its going to a good home. i had thought about it very hard, but never took the first step. i was thinking to find out if the location is near any industry where you might be able to hire a fork lift. and yes, roll it on pipes, but need to get it up on some heavy timbers first. 6x6 landscape timbers would be easy, although the real movers would have some better wood. i used to get hired to haul machinery quite often years ago when i had a rolldeck truck. winch them out of places that had no loading dock. have fun!!

[frnkeore]

This is my SW #2 turret lathe. It is much smaller than the WWII #2 WS turrets and I've never seen another like it. I did some online searches to try to find out any info on and nothing came up.

You'll note, that the turret is on a cross side so, you can face with it and besides the lever to operate the turret, it also has a hand crank, on the rear for forward motion. That would allow to turn the OD of something, too.

It's very versatile but, I've not used, since I bought it in about 2000.

Three things regarding moving the 3 trans lathe.

1. They make machinery moving rollers, some have small diameter ball bearing wheels and some have something like a crawler track. I made mine (2) out of 2.5" diameter ball bearings, 3 per side. The bearing are bolted to a 6 x 3 piece of 3/8 think channel, with one side cut down to just clear the bearings. You slide that side under the machine.

They also make a set, that have handles on them and they swivel, to steer. Look around for a place to rent them.

2. I would first check in with the riggers in that area and get a quote on loading it. It's a very dangerous job, with something that tall.

3. It will fit on a 8K or 10K lb, 16 - 20 ft long equipment trailer. That will keep it low and easier to load and unload.

In 1978, I moved my tall but short L&S and my step father helped me. I had my rollers under the lathe. We were going over a seam in the cement and it stopped. He gave a push, off to the side a little. Over it went and hit my heavy, 16" drill press and knocked to through the wall, braking the taper attachment on the lathe but, not us.

Another quick story...... Two friends of mine, moved a modern, 14" lathe, in his shop. I offered to help them but, they said that they could handle it. They were using a floor jack on it and tipped it over. One of them, got his Femur broke and a 4", gash, the other (owner of it) just got a big gash in his leg but, nothing broken.

BE CAREFUL!!!

[cas3]

thats a pretty cool lathe too. the big boy riggers would have air pallets today, but they dont work cheap

[Yoyodyne]

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Originally Posted by Fordestes

I just made the deal for the lathe with the 3 transmissions , all I am waiting on is a confirmation from my hired help if they are willing to travel , I am checking right now to secure a winch truck or heavy duty wrecker to load it , I am thinking a couple of goose neck trailers would do the job, that particular machine weighs close to 6,600 pounds without the transmissions, I may have to dis assemble it as to avoid overloading one trailer, I may have to put the touch on my relatives to haul it in one piece, only problem they only run dry box and no flatbed trailers. I will take some pictures and post , there are some obstacles as to getting it out of the building like 90 degree turns etc. I normally use pipe as rollers like the ancient Egyptians did when they built the pyramids. we will see what happens!

Congrats, I was hoping someone here would want it. I have fond memories of a 1908 L&S 18" X 100" that I restored to be my first big lathe - did a lot of car parts on it. I'm guessing you already have a good idea how to move it but I feel compelled to point out the biggest danger is that it is top heavy. I moved mine on timbers and pipe rollers on a heavy car/equipment trailer, I was young and fearless. Lately for moving things indoors I've been sliding machines on cold rolled steel bars like 1/2" round or 1/4" X 1" rectangles. Steel on steel slides easily especially if it's a little greasy, and when it's close to the ground there's little hazard of falling off. Some pry bars or a cable comealong will move something no heavier than that quite far in an hour. I find my skates are a PITA on anything but a perfectly clean and smooth floor, and it takes a while and more equipment to get something jacked up high enough to get the skates under it.


Good luck, and post photos please!

[Yoyodyne]

Originally Posted by frnkeore

This is my SW #2 turret lathe. It is much smaller than the WWII #2 WS turrets and I've never seen another like it. I did some online searches to try to find out any info on and nothing came up.

Very cool machine, I've never seen one like that either and I'm a W&S fan.

[Fordestes]

Some real kool old machinery here , just think, all those were built without the use of computers.

[frnkeore]

Can anyone confirm that the trans on my W&S is a Model A?

[frnkeore]

Originally Posted by D. Jones

I've run several lathes and a radial drill press that used transmissions to change speed but that one beats anything I've seen. I tried to post a picture of a 32"x 144" Lodge & Shipley that I've put quite a few hours on but the picture wont upload. It uses a very large electric motor with an attached transmission. Looks like it must be some sort of factory unit that was made to adapt the old line shaft flat belt drive. It's a little big for watch repair but does yeoman service in the railroad shop.

Thanks to member (Frnkeore) I can post the picture now. I don't know how old this Lodge & Shipley is but you can see the flat belt cones. I was intent on getting a picture of my helper Bob rather than the transmission electric motor drive. The lathe resides in the back shop of the Sumpter Valley Railroad near Baker City, Oregon.

Dennis, I believe that the drive on yours, is a Lima Drive. They were very popular for converting flat belts, years ago. From what I can see, yours is the motor/trans combo. I had the same thing on my L&S. They made just the trans also as a add on. I have one of those but, never had anything to mount it on. You used to be able to find them on all kinds of machinery but, today, most of the flat belt machinery has been scraped.

They also had large cast iron brackets to mount them off of the back of a lathe.

[cas3]

yes, that trans looks like a model A to me

[Mart]

Originally Posted by Fordestes

I just made the deal for the lathe with the 3 transmissions , all I am waiting on is a confirmation from my hired help if they are willing to travel , I am checking right now to secure a winch truck or heavy duty wrecker to load it , I am thinking a couple of goose neck trailers would do the job, that particular machine weighs close to 6,600 pounds without the transmissions, I may have to dis assemble it as to avoid overloading one trailer, I may have to put the touch on my relatives to haul it in one piece, only problem they only run dry box and no flatbed trailers. I will take some pictures and post , there are some obstacles as to getting it out of the building like 90 degree turns etc. I normally use pipe as rollers like the ancient Egyptians did when they built the pyramids. we will see what happens!

It's great that you've brought this remarkable piece of equipment "into the fold".

Make sure you take plenty of pics and maybe a little video when you are collecting and unloading. We all love to do stuff vicariously by other's efforts.

If you do video anything and are using your phone, hold it sideways so it looks better when viewed.

I'd love to see it once you get it running.

Mart.

[frnkeore]

Cas3, thank you.

[cas3]

just for fun, here's a big lathe https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/...54030/page-609

[D. Jones]

Now that's a lathe! It looks like it has a shotgun carriage. So far I've not needed one that big.

[woodiewagon46]

If my old shop teacher saw that third picture in the original post, someone would be getting detention. If he ever saw an unattended chuck wrench in the chuck like that, he would blow a gasket. He claimed he saw a student loose his two front teeth when he started the lathe with the chuck wrench engaged. All those pictures show good old American ingenuity!

[cas3]

well jeez, i thought i had it figured out to just show the lathe, and not the whole thread. hope you enjoyed the rest of the pics. never trust me to drive your computer

[Fordestes]

Glad to say I have the Lodge and Shipley at it's new home , It is awaiting re assembly , the whole Rig weighed 7000 pounds, I had to haul it on two trailers, Just got back from Iowa at 3:30 am this morning , with the help of a good friend and two locals we moved the old girl from the shop the first day , we started dis assembly the second day and were loaded and back in Oklahoma city the third day, all went very smoothly ,I have many pictures to post . It no doubt will take me a few days to recoup from this expedition.

[V8COOPMAN]

Originally Posted by cas3

well jeez, i thought i had it figured out to just show the lathe, and not the whole thread. hope you enjoyed the rest of the pics. never trust me to drive your computer

Here's just the lathe picture, although that gi-hugic thread has some of the greatest pics anywhere on Al Gore's internet....if ya have the time! DD

[Mart]

Glad you got it back and you're all safe and sound. Quite the trip by the sound of it.

[cas3]

thanks coopman. quite the lathe there, i pity the poor guy who had to sweep up the turnings each day

[V8COOPMAN]

Originally Posted by cas3

thanks coopman. quite the lathe there, i pity the poor guy who had to sweep up the turnings each day

You ALMOST have to ask.....Just how big was the lathe they used to make THIS one? DD

[Fordestes]

Also I was privileged to meet some of the nicest people I have met in years, everyone in Iowa was really friendly, It would have been a lot more difficult without their help , a local equipment rental company referred me to a contractor who had a skid steer fork lift located within 2 blocks of where we were working , It was almost like my hometown 50 years ago, always ready to help out any way they could.
many thanks to the folks in Iowa .

[frnkeore]

I'm also glad your home safe.

I look forward to the pictures you will post and the joy that you'll have when it first the spindle and you can use it.

I hope that you can post the speed that the spindle turns, too.

Congrats

[solidaxle]

Now a days, they use T5's. Much more versatile.

[frnkeore]

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three, T5's? 125 gears + R's WOW!!!

[tubman]

Originally Posted by frnkeore

three, T5's? 125 gears + R's WOW!!!

I can think of a better use for those T5 transmissions.