Help Identify Fowler Lathe part

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Carlos
Posts: 28
Joined: Sun Nov 03, 2019 9:53 am

Help Identify Fowler Lathe part

Post by Carlos »

Hi all
Just got that part from a friend. Would anyone know what it is?
Its plate say: Fowler Burbank - Cal.
Thanks.
Attachments
B9A5DEBB-274B-46B2-81F9-DBC75692D42E.jpeg
spro
Posts: 8016
Joined: Mon Feb 20, 2006 11:04 pm
Location: mid atlantic

Re: Help Identify Fowler Lathe part

Post by spro »

It may have been a lathe. It is lacking key components of a lathe.
John Evans
Posts: 2366
Joined: Tue Jan 20, 2009 9:33 pm
Location: Phoenix ,AZ

Re: Help Identify Fowler Lathe part

Post by John Evans »

Head stock and lathe bed. Scrap iron if that is all that is there,not much hope of making anything useful from that . Cost more in time and effort than the result is worth. Could very well be some special purpose made machine.
www.chaski.com
spro
Posts: 8016
Joined: Mon Feb 20, 2006 11:04 pm
Location: mid atlantic

Re: Help Identify Fowler Lathe part

Post by spro »

Yes. Hi. Perhaps a test bench. Fowler sold micrometers and stuff. It has a flat bed. One would need to know the spindle taper. Maybe it wasn't a lathe at all but lacking the tail stock, hurts its value. Where is the emoticon that says "I know You already Knew this" ?
pete
Posts: 2518
Joined: Tue Feb 10, 2009 6:04 am

Re: Help Identify Fowler Lathe part

Post by pete »

I'm almost certain that Fowler name isn't tied to the Fowler / metrology equipment. A quick Google search did get at least this much. https://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/a ... ca-309498/ The picture makes it appear like the bed bolted to the front of the head stock? Oddly it seems to have a cut out in the head stock for a drive belt but no step pulley on the spindle that one would expect should be there. The single support foot at what should be the tail stock end was done on a lot of highly accurate lathes and test equipment as a way around any bed twisting becoming an issue. Does the spindle rotate and any female taper in it Carlos? Only a best guess, but I'm leaning towards it either being some type of test fixture that could have had additional parts and/or fixturing added to it, or something to do with military ammunition as the PM link mentions. Most definitely a production piece of equipment as the stenciled numbers show. I really don't think it was ever the main parts to a small lathe.Without more information this is all just guessing anyway.
Carlos
Posts: 28
Joined: Sun Nov 03, 2019 9:53 am

Re: Help Identify Fowler Lathe part

Post by Carlos »

Ok, thanks, so I am traveling but when I am back home I measure if there is a taper or anything else and if its rotating.
Not sure what I should do with that thing.
Carlos
Posts: 28
Joined: Sun Nov 03, 2019 9:53 am

Re: Help Identify Fowler Lathe part

Post by Carlos »

And thanks to all for your reply.
LIALLEGHENY
Posts: 363
Joined: Sat Jan 11, 2014 12:36 am
Location: Bohemia, NY

Re: Help Identify Fowler Lathe part

Post by LIALLEGHENY »

It's obviously missing parts, but I believe it is a bench center. Also could have been a concentricity checker.

Nyle
Carlos
Posts: 28
Joined: Sun Nov 03, 2019 9:53 am

Re: Help Identify Fowler Lathe part

Post by Carlos »

I am sure that there is some attachment to it. If I would know what it is I would search and complete it.

Its actually pretty heavy - full steel body.

I just love this old well made / over-engineered machines like Atlas, Delta, South Bend, and so on... . They must be preserved. Don't want that ccc (cheapchinesecrap) in my home, .... 😁 So trying to save it.

As long its not CNC, I believe this old equipment, if maintained well, is more precise and easier to handle.

So I hope we can identify that part.
Carlos
Posts: 28
Joined: Sun Nov 03, 2019 9:53 am

Re: Help Identify Fowler Lathe part

Post by Carlos »

@Liallegheny: what is a bench center. Searching for that did not bring the expected.
LIALLEGHENY
Posts: 363
Joined: Sat Jan 11, 2014 12:36 am
Location: Bohemia, NY

Re: Help Identify Fowler Lathe part

Post by LIALLEGHENY »

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