Featured Tool dilemma

Found this near-new condition lathe about 400 mi from home. It is one of the best-made ever, kinda like a Rolex of engine lathes. Vintage is circa 1940's I think but this brand used art-deco style castings for the outer shell, which is kinda neat. I am sorely tempted to just collect it, even if I never use it. I don't have much need to machine the large items it'll turn-up to 32" diameter and 108" long. I'd have to hire riggers and specialized movers to get it home. It is about 17' x 8' footprint, and weighs 7 or 8 tons. Wife will be extremely unhappy unless I get blessing in advance. Somehow I don't think she will go for "it followed me home!" or "I got you a very special and unusual X-mas present!" I can't help it. WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME!!!

 

But Nancy, if I didn't save it, it would have gone to the scrappers

 

One day soon,things like this are going to be valuable as we move further and further away from actually making anything. Theres naught wrong with you Spring,we ALL understand you completely.

 

Nothing is wrong with you....as you are in good company here..!

It's just that.....you like really BIG toys !!

 

That is awesome

 

Thanks, am working on it-moving it will be 'spensive and am having a little trouble getting quotes but that's due to people out for the holiday I think. A friend who has some heavy-stuff moving experience said a Big rollback wrecker could do it, avoiding need for cranes etc, but I'd still need to have riggers in charge to watch out for all the nice chromed handwheels sticking out. Am going back to run some tests on the lathe if owner lets me, if not he'll keep it. One very easy but critical test is putting a precision level on the moveable carriage part and cranking it from one end of the bed to the other. If the bubble moves at all it means there's a twist in the bed that will show up in the accuracy of the finished workpieces. Failing that test would kill the deal, but I'd take more photos and hang the best one on the wall, and save $$$.

 

good luck..

 

Can't imagine those beds would twist. Does that happen over time if the tool is not on a level floor and does not sit square to all four corners?

 

Not a time function but rather from damage in moving. All lathes big enough for floor mounting come with screw leveling feet, and even home-shop sizes may have 6 feet, large ones more feet. The motor end alone often has 4 feet. The cast iron beds are very stabile over time and temperature, which is why cast iron is extensively used in machine tools. I also looked at a rather long lathe that has feet like a centipede, will look up that photo. The repainting on it wasn't very attractive.

This lil' fella has 10 feet.

 

It looks like an Argon Laser from the JPL !!!

 

Hopefully, you'll let us know the end results!!!!!????

 

Who's that stylish fella posing with pride, leaning on the machine ?
Boy, does he look pleased !!!!

 

Yes! I hope that you do let us know, Spring.

 

I will, but maybe something doesn't want me to have it! My communications to seller are getting no response and what that means IHNI. Nor do I get responses on my requests for rigging/transportation estimates. Strange. Usually when people know I'm ready to spend some money they're all over me. Go figure! Well there's an auction coming up with a few things I'd like to have so if everybody involved with El Grosso lathe stiffs me, I can go after some of the smaller stuff!

 

And to think - the rest of us wonder where we're going to put all the trivial small stuff we collect!

 

Well I gave up on the seller and the monster lathe, rationalizing that with four working lathes of various sizes, that should be enough. Am focusing on getting more "Tooling" for the mill, lathes, etc. so I can do more with the machines I have. I can get quite a bit of that stuff for what the three-day round trip to do my tests on the big lathe would have cost. Road tolls alone between VA and NYC are about $65.

 

Sorry to hear that......maybe the seller feels that with so many questions you're dicking him around........but that's HIS loss !!!!