Drummond Square Bed 1908 3 1/2”

[James1979]

Evening all. My neighbour was selling one, my pal bought it. I resisted and passed on the details!

Although it’s currently in my shed

Anyhow. Does anyone have any details / info / drawings about these please?

Mostly from an interest point of view as it’s a cool little thing, but the only fault with it is a bit of play in the headstock bearing so I want to know if it can be nipped up. It is almost like a stuffing box type arrangement at first glance.

My pal knows little about lathes. I put him onto this as he wants to learn and do odd bits himself. I do a good bit of what he needs now, along with another friend of his, so it’ll save me doing oddments and he will learn a bit.

I said I’d get it right before he takes it from here. Nothing else wrong with it. I’ll take pictures tomorrow.

Oh yeah. It was £70. With a ton of bits.

 

[MattF]

Archive: lathes.co.uk

Machine Tool Archive, lathes.co.uk, Tony Griffiths

www.lathes.co.uk

 

[James1979]

Thanks Matt. Tony’s site was first port of call but I found everything but!

Did a search on here and found a few interesting links but not that one

 

[Agroshield]

There's a Drummond group at groups.io . You might be able to fabricobble a google search to sift through the messages there to see if anything comes up.

It might be that it is known by a different name: for example, in the first page of the group below there is reference to a 'pre-B'.

drummondlathe groups.io Group

Drummond Brothers built lathes in England between 1902 and 1942, when Myford took over the company under wartime conditions. Despite the age of these lathes, a surprising number of them are still in use. This group is for Drummond (all types) and Myford M Type lathe owners to share photos...

groups.io

 

[GraemeVW]

I have a 1902 drummond. What type exactly has been bought?

 

[mtt.tr]

I have a 1902 drummond. What type exactly has been bought?
View attachment 400451

They really are beautiful

 

[James1979]

If he didn’t want it I’d have bought it just to have.

 

[MattF]

might be that it is known by a different name: for example, in the first page of the group below there is reference to a 'pre-B'.

That's the name it's referred to as in general.

 

[gaz1]

this homemade one uses the diamond shape box section not as old but does use the reference of the drummond round bed lathes

https://www.vintageprojects.com/sites/default/files/articles/HobbyLathe.pdf

 

[MattF]

They really are beautiful

They are. That model is the first Drummond I ever bought. I need to get around to finishing restoring it. It's shameful for it still not to be up and running.

 

[minimutly]

They do have a certain foot treadle charm. Nearly bought one a couple of years ago as a project.

 

[James1979]

Worth £70 of anyone’s money.

Thanks to all for the info so far. I’ve passed it on. They are interesting little things.

My first lathe was a treadle one when I was 12 or 13. Birthday present from my father. It wasn’t a Drummond I am fairly certain. I think it was home built or at least a home built frankenlathe

 

[GraemeVW]

View attachment 400502
View attachment 400503

Worth £70 of anyone’s money.

Thanks to all for the info so far. I’ve passed it on. They are interesting little things.

My first lathe was a treadle one when I was 12 or 13. Birthday present from my father. It wasn’t a Drummond I am fairly certain. I think it was home built or at least a home built frankenlathe

Brilliant!

That one actually has headstock bearings, but there were 2 types with different adjustment.
The earlier ones like mine, the spindle runs direct in the cast iron.
I had my spindle hard chromed and ground to size as only the spindle wears.

Your friends one can be adjusted, and if it's too bad, new bushes can always be made.

 

[James1979]

It looks like there’s adjustments there. I’m not sure what it’s called proper with bearings but it looks like a stuffing box type arrangement where you tighten the face down to adjust them

From what I’ve found out it’s more a conical (bronze ?) bush than a bearing.

I said I’d turn him up a pair if needs be.

 

[GraemeVW]

It looks like there’s adjustments there. I’m not sure what it’s called proper with bearings but it looks like a stuffing box type arrangement where you tighten the face down to adjust them

From what I’ve found out it’s more a conical (bronze ?) bush than a bearing.

I said I’d turn him up a pair if needs be.

Yes. I think there was one type with a big nut that draws the bearing further into the casting, closing it down, and another type that had 3 screws.

 

[6ply]

I have a pre b sitting somewhere, partly restored and unloved. It's a job I'll never get around to finishing as I have too many things to do. A great shame as they have beautiful castings.