I purchased an old lathe and I have tested it and it runs fine. It has a bad cord and I need to replace it. could some one take a picture of their cord particularly where the foot pedal ties into the power cable.

Also I have used lathes before but they were 1000 times larger so I am familiar with their operation but I need to buy a few extra collets. I'm not sure what size this takes. the threaded part is 6mm but the collet itself is 8mm's. So which size does it take?

Also I'm mainly going to use this to hold 16s and 18s balance staffs so can someone give me some idea as to what size collets I will need.

This did not come with a tool rest so I am going to try and use the foot or make one with a bolt and some aluminum angle stock unless I can find a reasonably price tool rest.

I did not realize how small these jewelers lathes were. The flat part of the slide is 32mm. The channel is 8mm wide. It is made by Racine or at least the motor is.

Thank you for any assistance you can offer me in my quest to get the parts I need for this lathe.

End view.

Motor

hi Harry: I'm almost certain it is Levin by the hole pattern on the bed end, which looks like the pattern they used for their threading gears!!!! As well you got lucky that it is 8mm WW ,the industry common standard for 8mm ,and most 8mm collets will fit although there appears to be a range of almost 7 thousandths between the largest and smallest threaded 8mm collets. Tom Hammond I believe used to have a chart or list of the differences.
I've handled dozens of lathes and the fine variations still amaze me And then there was the American genius Rivett, who unlike every other lathe manufacturer in the world ,used American Wire Size for his collets, and as a result they go in the reverse of everyone else's sizing, so Rivett collets will not fit the missing hole in your set # for # . And they are slightly smaller than Levin Peerless or Boley, and Boley had two sizes ,similar,but not identical . That said he was an innovative genius and his R1 Rivett Lathe was just a little beauty. I'm sitting here thinking how I wish to sell mine,or if I do I guess,but I have 4 lathes and barely need one LOL Harry ,is there any name on the ends of the bed or the ends of the headstock and tailstock? Most Levins were signed , and as well they were among the best most precise and accurate lathes ever made, regards,Tom

Hello Tom,

The only name I can find is on the inside of the headstock and it say "Tevin" with a line under the name and a "B" centered under the line.

a common misreading of their signature sir, it is a Levin and they are a beauty lathe,probably the best ever made , and the "B" means it has bronze bearings. Only Louis Levin and FW Derbyshire are still in business of the multitude of American watchmakers lathe makers, the two best and most expensive makers. go to the Louis Levin website and see the collet prices, though I'd advise a large Brandy before you go to prepare your heart for the shock LOL,then go to IHC members or eBay to buy your collets for less than 1/10th of what Levin wants. Actually you can buy Starrett for $11.25 each new , not as good as the old collets most people think,but usable and satisfactory- and available. This though is not the old LS Starrett Co. of Atholl,Mass who made just splendid tools

Thank you Tom for all your help. This lathe just arrive today. I won it off Ebay and I got it for $117 and $15 shipping. So it looks like I did well.

Now I now nothing about collet size numbers and I really only need one collet to get me started. Do you happen to know which collet I need to hold 16s and 18s balance staffs. Looking at my Hampden book it looks like anything that will hold about a .50 - .80 mm will do.

I have to also re attach the foot pedal do you have any suggestion on a way to do that other than having wiring nuts and electrical tape holding the two wires together.

Thanks again.

my R1 Rivett

WOW!!! what a buy!!! How did I miss that????? The motor is worth $100 with the pedal, the aluminum base is worth $40 and the lathe about $250. They go for a lot more with a collet holding tailstock,but you sure scored big time on that one Harry !!

Thank you Tom that makes me feel a lot better. Of course it was not advertised as a Levin or that would have gotten a lot more attention.

That sure is a nice looking Rivett you have there. I like the way the head unit is built. I need to get a tool rest. There is an old one on Ebay right now I will see if I can get.

not pretty,but a Levin

http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAG...82ceb6#ht_500wt_1200

Harry: This is how my lathe motor and pedal are wired. Hope this helps. Paul

Hi Paul,

Yes that helps but where the foot pedal connects in line with the power cable how is it connected? Is there a box where the connection takes place or is there something that looks like it was made or molded at the factory that way.

My pedal works but everything is spliced together and looks like a fire hazard. I was wondering how the members fixed this problem or if they even ran into this problem. They may have had a good cord and never even have looked at the connection.

Thank you Paul.

Harry: My pedal has a plug on it and goes into the outlet that is spliced into the wire. Paul

Paul that is a great idea. Thanks!

Alright I relpaced about half the plug wire. Thank you Paul for that. I have also ID'd my lathe which is a Levin, thank you Tom for that. The foot was froze up so I took that apart and oiled that and I've got it working like a champ. I have wiped all the dust off from years of sitting somewhere. I cranked her up and boy did she squeal from years of just sitting I'm sure. I oiled her up and the squeal went away and she's running smooth and quite.

I found some information out by searching the web but it was for some brand of collet I have not seen so I don't know if the collect sizes are the same as the 8mm WW that I need. I don't need a full set right now but I have this lathe sitting here and I still do not what size collets to buy.

I need a collet that will holds something about .5 to .8 mm's and one that will hold about a 1/8" shank. The one chart I found said I would need a #1 and a # 31. Can anyone tell me if that is right?

I guess I can sit here and admire it but I really am itching to try it out. Thanks....

Thanks but I don't need anymore help on collets. I found a site with a chart that is different than the first chart I found and is for a brand I am familiar with and I know they will work with my lathe. So I now know what size collets I need and I will order them later today. Whoo Hooo... oh and by the way it was The Clock Bug website.

Harry: You might want to check this out. Paul

http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAG...&hash=item20c182ceb6

Thank you Paul. Yes I have my eyes on it. Thank you

Tom from Dash-to told me about collets and what their numbers meant. This correlates with the chart I found on The Clock Bug site.

Since I did not get any information from this site about collet sizes I figure not many people know what they mean. It is really quit simple and this is for the Starrett collet but I would not be surprised if all the 8mm and WW collets are numbered the same.

The numbers on the collet corresponds to millimeter sizes, so a .50 mm would be a #5, a .80 mm would be a #8, a 1.2 mm would be a #12 and so forth. Simple but if you don't know that like I did not then you can't order collets. Have a nice day.

yes Harry,all are in mm except Rivett who used "American Wire Size" as his standard so Rivett collets are mostly numbered backwards to the other brands,but numbered to take readily available diameters of wire or tool rod manufactured to American Wire Size standards,simple yet ingenious to take the available wire stock perfectly # for #

I'm no where near ready to buy a lathe, but found this one for sale. It's labeled Hamilton Beach Peerless 2. With no collets or accessories I assume except what's in the picture.
Opinions?
What to look for? If I go to check it out.

LOOK FOR ANY PRICE UNDER $100.00 IF THE SPINDLE IS FREE AND TURNING.