Long, Long Ago, In A Galaxy Far Far Away

[jackieschmidt]

We were cleaning out some old files at our Shop, and found this photo.

The picture was taken in 1964 in the first building my Dad put up. I am on the left, my Dad in the middle, and on the right is my brother Charlie who died in 1985 of Lung Cancer. I was a junior in high school. My oldest brother had just got drafted, my younger too young to work.

The lathe is an old belt line Monarch. It would work 30 feet between centers. It was probably built in or around 1917. Notice the truck transmission mounted atop for gear changes.

We still use the lathe, more or less. We stripped every thing off of it and use it to rotate shafts as we apply the fiberglass coating that covers the unprotected surfaces of the shafts we build.

 

[Judd]

A cool piece of history…that’s a nice find Jackie! Interesting you’re still using it today too...as big as things are in your business, I bet things don’t get retired much

 

[jds holler]

Nothing to put things in perspective like using the same eyes that you see yourself in the mirror with every morning, to look at yourself as you were sixty years ago. jd

 

[ShtrRdy]

Wowzer!! Thanks for sharing.

 

[LVLAaron]

I'm sure that machine weighs more than my house, minus the foundation.

 

[Lucky Shooter]

Way back in the 1960's I was in the shipyard at Newport News, VA and a guy pointed
to a building and told me the world's largest lathe was in there.

I now wish I'd asked some questions and maybe had gotten a peek inside----but didn't.

These big lathes are awesome to a guy who has a Grizzly n the garage.

A, Weldy

 

[jackieschmidt]

I'm sure that machine weighs more than my house, minus the foundation.

This old antique is really rather flimsy compared to our 38 foot American or any of our other large gear head lathes.

But I learned the ins and outs of machining long slender shafts on that old thing. Way back then, we made do with what we could afford.

 

[Skedaddle Shooter]

We were cleaning out some old files at our Shop, and found this photo.

The picture was taken in 1964 in the first building my Dad put up. I am on the left, my Dad in the middle, and on the right is my brother Charlie who died in 1985 of Lung Cancer. I was a junior in high school. My oldest brother had just got drafted, my younger too young to work.

The lathe is an old belt line Monarch. It would work 30 feet between centers. It was probably built in or around 1917. Notice the truck transmission mounted atop for gear changes.

We still use the lathe, more or less. We stripped every thing off of it and use it to rotate shafts as we apply the fiberglass coating that covers the unprotected surfaces of the shafts we build.View attachment 1466655View attachment 1466656

That is very, very cool. I love seeing pictures of tradesmen from the past. I don’t have any pictures of the construction crews I worked with when I started in the 70’s but sure wish I did..

 

[Sniperhandle]

"Notice the truck transmission mounted atop for gear changes."

That's pretty bitchin, I would have never thought of using one on top like that, I have seen very old lathes with ford car transmissions on them for feed speeds, That's pretty cool!

Do you still have the old "Gantry Crane" that straddles it?

 

[55fairlane]

"Notice the truck transmission mounted atop for gear changes."

That's pretty bitchin, I would have never thought of using one on top like that, I have seen very old lathes with ford car transmissions on them for feed speeds, That's pretty cool!

Do you still have the old "Gantry Crane" that straddles it?

Lima electric motor in the 30's & 40's made a motor with a transmission attached to it very similar to this set up

 

[Timberyote]

Very nice piece of your history.

I like the hobby lathe.

 

[AlNyhus]

Jackie, you and your late brother sure resemble each other. -Al

 

[V35]

Great pic, thanks for sharing.

 

[jackieschmidt]

"Notice the truck transmission mounted atop for gear changes."

That's pretty bitchin, I would have never thought of using one on top like that, I have seen very old lathes with ford car transmissions on them for feed speeds, That's pretty cool!

Do you still have the old "Gantry Crane" that straddles it?

That old A-frame is long gone, we build a new one that actually runs on rails. A 28 foot mid ‘70’s LeBlond Lathe took the place of the old Monarch. Here it is.

 

[Sniperhandle]

That old A-frame is long gone, we build a new one that actually runs on rails. A 28 foot mid ‘70’s LeBlond Lathe took the place of the old Monarch.View attachment 1467220 Here it is.

Oh Yeah that's way nicer, That's a lot easier than trying to keep wheels straight. Nice!

 

[LVLAaron]

I bet leveling that is fun

 

[Sniperhandle]

I'm going to guess that's 8 inch round on the floor, How much does the long piece Weigh?

 

[LVLAaron]

I'm going to guess that's 8 inch round on the floor, How much does the long piece Weigh?

'bout 4800lbs if it's 8 inches and 28 feet long

 

[Sniperhandle]

I'm going to guess it's about 16 feet, Maybe 18

 

[jackieschmidt]

I bet leveling that is fun

Here is how we do it. The pictures are when we put in the 38 foot American.

I use a Starret Transit, leveled to the Earth. Using a steel rule off the bed, we can sweep it the length of the bed in way of each base foot.

I use the precision level to take the twist out.