Hardinge Cataract lathe added to the arsenal

[Technical Ted]

I've been keeping my eyes open for a small lathe (at a good price) that would be better suited for small model making type parts and didn't find anything until this showed up on Craig's List a couple days ago. I got it from an in-active member here. I didn't know he was on this site until I found his post here: https://www.hobby-machinist.com/thr...bench-lathe-how-to-remove-spindle-head.20882/ while searching for information.

He cleaned it all up nicely, including refinishing the nice maple bench and painted the lathe and accessories. A lot of tooling and accessories came with it. Now, I'm checking things out, asking questions and doing research. These lathes are a little bit of a horse of a different color than the lathes I'm familiar with.

I think it will be a great addition to the shop. Does anyone have a operator's manual for this? I've found limited information on line.

Thanks,
Ted

 

[Ulma Doctor]

very cool!

 

[DavidR8]

Coincidentally I was just reading about these lathes. The dovetail ways are interesting.
What a great find, congratulations!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[brino]

Wow lots of accessories!

Congratulations.
-brino

 

[Cadillac STS]

You’ve probably already seen this:

Cataract Lathes

Cataract Lathes - high-precision American-made for toolroom and experimental shop work

www.lathes.co.uk

Do you think it is the original table/base?

Hardinge Brothers - Publication Reprints | VintageMachinery.org

 

[brino]

Hi Ted,

I looked for manuals and did NOT find any either.
Do you know the model or year that could help in searches?

In looking around the web, I see:

a few references here:
https://www.hobby-machinist.com/threads/hardinge-cataract-bench-lathe.81053/#post-700207

https://www.hobby-machinist.com/thr...bench-lathe-how-to-remove-spindle-head.20882/

the most Cataract info I see is at Home Shop Machinist.

https://bbs.homeshopmachinist.net/search?searchJSON={"keywords":"cataract","sort":{"null":null},"view":"","exclude_type":["vBForum_PrivateMessage"]}&btnSubmit=&humanverify[input]=jgqrca&humanverify[hash]=14817eefe3d863fa598961215d3c56db

https://bbs.homeshopmachinist.net/forum/general/58868-looking-for-hardinge-cataract-lathe-owners

https://bbs.homeshopmachinist.net/forum/general/72964-hardinge-cataract-restoration-log

One post on Home Shop Machinist also recommended the Hardinge section of the Practical Machinist site.

You may want to try to ping those authors with private messages.
Unfortunately, that's the only pointers I can give you.

-brino

 

[Technical Ted]

You’ve probably already seen this:

Cataract Lathes

Cataract Lathes - high-precision American-made for toolroom and experimental shop work

www.lathes.co.uk

Do you think it is the original table/base?

Hardinge Brothers - Publication Reprints | VintageMachinery.org

Original table/base? Yes. There are a few guys on PM that seem to specialize in these babies and know vintage, style, etc. just by a picture. They are experts on these things, especially one guy in particular. I don't know if it's OK to link to PM posts here, but if you look over the last couple days you will see my post as well as another guy's who bought one as well, although his is different and no where near the extras.

My headstock/base is 1936-1939 and the compound slide after 1945 and tailstock after 1940. Most of the chucks are different brands i.e. Cushman, Union, etc.. Not sure about the milling attachment, but it's in beautiful shape! The Union chuck is a 4 jaw combination chuck. Never seen one like it... it's got a lever on the back of it and by sliding it you can change it between an independent to scroll chuck! Haven't figured out yet the proper procedure for doing it to maintain concentricity, but that will come. If someone knows, please reply!

I just got done sorting out all the HSS tool bits, reamers, tooling, etc and putting them in their new homes along with that which I ready had. I even got 20 re-sharpened and dipped carbide end mills. All the tooling and extras with this lathe were a huge plus on this deal. One of the drill chucks among the Jacobs is an Albrecht! I love those chucks!

Thanks,
Ted

 

[Technical Ted]

Hi Ted,

I looked for manuals and did NOT find any either.
Do you know the model or year that could help in searches?

In looking around the web, I see:

a few references here:
https://www.hobby-machinist.com/threads/hardinge-cataract-bench-lathe.81053/#post-700207

https://www.hobby-machinist.com/thr...bench-lathe-how-to-remove-spindle-head.20882/

the most Cataract info I see is at Home Shop Machinist.

https://bbs.homeshopmachinist.net/search?searchJSON={"keywords":"cataract","sort":{"null":null},"view":"","exclude_type":["vBForum_PrivateMessage"]}&btnSubmit=&humanverify[input]=jgqrca&humanverify[hash]=14817eefe3d863fa598961215d3c56db

https://bbs.homeshopmachinist.net/forum/general/58868-looking-for-hardinge-cataract-lathe-owners

https://bbs.homeshopmachinist.net/forum/general/72964-hardinge-cataract-restoration-log

One post on Home Shop Machinist also recommended the Hardinge section of the Practical Machinist site.

You may want to try to ping those authors with private messages.
Unfortunately, that's the only pointers I can give you.

-brino

Thanks for the links! I appreciate it very much! There seem to be a lot of these lathes out there, but very little information is available.

The model is 37 meaning it's a 3C spindle with 7" swing. But, it's got 1" risers on the headstock and tailstock so it's now a 9" swing which seems to be the more common size of these lathes. I didn't get any 3C collets with it, but it came with a 4C collet head and 45 4C collets. I've learned that these came in different configurations including 3C, 4C and 5C collet bore spindles and either 7" or 9" swings.

Yes, PM is a very good source. One of the members there reached out and DMed me. We are corresponding now via email and he has been a big asset. He's re-worked the spindles on these and owns a few.

I've pretty familiar with machine shop machines, but these lathes are unlike any machine I've ever run or worked on. Even the way chucks mount is "odd" to me... and a cross slide you loosen up, move to where you want it, push it up to the front rail and tighten it down to machine??? That's just plain weird!!!

But, I think this will be a great machine for small part work and that's why I got it (besides the fact that I'm a tool aholic!).

Thanks,
Ted

 

[brino]

Ted,

Very cool machine!
I'd love to see any details you'd like to share about the lathe or that equally weird Union "combination" 4-jaw chuck....

-brino

 

[Technical Ted]

I also learned with this resent research that the "C" in 3C, 4C, 5C etc. collets stands for Cataract. Hardinge developed these collets in the early 1900's for use in their Cataract lathes.

Ted