Boley F1 precision Watchmakers Lathe

Description: Although perfectly useable as a conventional watchmakers' lathe, the G.Boley F1 was really intended for specialised work involving the turning of pivots and staffs. Constructed to the highest possible mechanical standards, together with an exemplary cosmetic finish, the lathe's general layout mirrored the 1940 to 1950s development for this class of WW lathe where several makers, beginning with the English Pultra and IME and the German Leinen, stated to fit a much simpler (though more rigid) design of headstock where the drive pulley, instead of being between the bearings, was overhung on the left-hand end of the spindle. In addition, abandoning the old-fashioned separate countershaft, many of these lathes were built onto a rigid base (supported on rubber feet) that also served to hold the motor and drive system. Designed to be exceptionally smooth running, the motor of the F1 (fitted, optionally, with a rheostat for variable-speed control) was held on a pivoting plate at the rear of the 280 mm long base unit. It was arranged to drive either directly to the pulley on the outboard end of the 8 mm bore spindle (for conventional work) or to one set lower down that turned a shaft that emerged below and to the rear of the spindle nose. On the end of the shaft was a wheel, this pressing against a larger diameter "friction wheel" mounted on an eccentric shaft set below and to the front of the spindle line. To drive the main spindle and so control the speed, a thumb-operated toggle lever was employed that moved the friction wheel against a housing formed around the spindle nose (a fitting described the makers as a "carrier disc"). The speed was regulated by arranging to set a light-to heavy-contact by a spring-actuated stop-screw that bore against the front bed way. In order to prevent damage to the work, the toggle lever was fitted with a protruding arm that - when thumb pressure was released - acted under spring pressure as a brake against the carrier disc. When used for turning staffs and pivots the lathe was not handled in a conventional way, but operated from the tailstock end (as shown below) with the operator resting both arms on the workbench. Everything was done to make his job easy as possible with, at the back of the bed, a large height-adjustable rest for his wrist (that helped steady the right hand holding the graver on the T-rest), and the left hand positioned so that the thumb rested against the toggle lever to control the spindle rotation. In addition, not only was a fold-down flap provided under the base plate to lift the headstock end of the bed, but the whole lathe could be rotated, in its housing, along the longitudinal axis. As the bed was a conventional 50 mm centre height WW type (and the spindle arranged to take standard 8 mm Boley collets), most accessories from the maker's watchmakers' range could be employed. Amongst these were a compound slide-rest assembly, a saw bench unit, roller filing rests, standard and reinforced-head collets, mandrel faceplate with dogs, a precision 3-jaw chuck with face jaws, hollow runners for the tailstock, a universal runner with drill pin, centring pin and associated drill holders, shellac chucks, a carrier chuck with male and female points and a Jacot drum, etc. Extremely precise for repivoting and staff turning particularly effective speed control using finger friction control for precise drilling and turning.seldom seen in the US invest in yourself with this fine lathe for specialized pivot and staff work The G. Boley F1 is intended for specialized work involving the turning of pivots and staffs.Constructed to the highest possible mechanical standards, together with an exemplary cosmetic finish, the lathe's general layout mirrored the 1940 to 1950s development for this class of WW lathe where several makers, beginning with the English Pultra and IME and the German Leinen, stated to fit a much simpler (though more rigid) design of headstock where the drive pulley, instead of being between the bearings, was overhung on the left-hand end of the spindle. In addition, abandoning the old-fashioned separate countershaft, many of these lathes were built onto a rigid base (supported on rubber feet) that also served to hold the motor and drive system.Extremely precise for repivoting and staff turning particularly effective speed control using finger friction controll for precise drilling and turningseldom seen in the US invest in yourself with this fine lathe

Price: 2800 USD

Location: Orange Park, Florida

End Time: 2024-12-07T04:16:37.000Z

Shipping Cost: N/A USD