The Secret Society of Lathe Trolls

Even back in the day, lathe production was high dollar, low volume type production. Sure Presto made a lot of 6Ns, but all of their larger units were sold in much lower numbers, 100 to 200 or less. Even the Scully or Neumann lathes were really, low volume produced, like 200 or 300 in 5 to 10 years t...

Well, thank you both very much for the leaflets about the S1 cutter head. Now I know for sure they were licensed by Westrex.

Hi Sameal, The switch on the anvil is to turn on that small 6.3v transformer, which in turn, turns on the microscope light that pugs into the top microscope post plug. Presto 8GV Microscop.JPG Presto8GV Microscope.JPG I'm gonna guess that the large pot was for a custom stylus heater supply, but you ...

I wished I had the original documents with my lathe to show what they were doing with it. It came from a studio in Boston that did a lot of work for Muzak back in the 1950s and 1960s and it was rumored to have had the Presto S1 stereo head mounted to it. I wished I got that cutter head too! :cry: L...

I'm doing everything OTB, but that's just how I am because I like turning knobs, pushing buttons and seeing real blinking lights on a console! :lol: But to interface to the digital world, I am looking for some decent AD/DA converters. I was looking at the Lavry black series. Anyone else use them?

I just had a second look here now, looks like they moved his overhead back to accommodate the space for the Westrex head and then just used the stock Presto head mount on the carriage.

I wished I had the original documents with my lathe to show what they were doing with it. It came from a studio in Boston that did a lot of work for Muzak back in the 1950s and 1960s and it was rumored to have had the Presto S1 stereo head mounted to it. I wished I got that cutter head too! :cry: Lo...

The 8D, 8DG and 8GV are all part of the same family of lathes though and share the same parts between them. I've only hear of people mounting a Westrex 2B head on a Presto before, yours is the first I've actually seen that way. If you think your lathe was a prototype, mine was weird as well with a h...

That's weird! I'm surprised they would have used both brands on the same lathe? :o Bodine should be able to rebuild yours though. Or there might be a Bodine dealer near you? As someone else mentioned, they have good legacy support. I called Ashland, and they were at least willing to help, but their ...

I'm surprised the 8DG was that much different than the 8GV then, as far as the table drive. Mine uses the Ashland motors instead of the Bodine motors though.

Here are some pics:
Let the good work continue!!

Maybe retiring?

If since he knows a tech that worked on them back in the 1960s, he must be at least in his 70s!

Not sure how long this will last, not a bad price for a fully running system.

Can you rotate the motors by hand? Sometimes they seize up after sitting for years and decades without use because the old oil has varnished up. The rubber idler roller only drives the big flywheel in 78 speed only. When the 78 switch is selected, it turns the power supply on, as well as the motor, ...

Yes, drain the engine oil out. You can flush it with machine oil and fill, and it should be fine. That old oil looks nasty! You're probably the first person to change it in 50years! Presto recommended changing it every 180 hours/ six months. That's true, you don't need multi viscosity oil here as yo...

The gear box takes 1 pint, from empty.

You basically want the oil to fill above where the 33 rpm worm gear shaft sits horizontal.


Use SAE30/ISO100 Machine Oil only! You can find it at McMaster Carr.

I didn't realize you were in the same boat I'm in with this lathe, as far as pitch system being missing. Here's a drawing that I guess came from Alan Graves for the tree pulley, I presume you spoke with him about it? At least you can get up and cutting for now with this. I opted to go back to the me...

If anything to make your list of interested parties bigger, put me down for one too.

Hi Sameal, Here's how it's going with my 8GV. The bottom plate w/pointer and quill block are finished, as in the picture. The sleeve that goes into the quill block is at the shop right now getting fitted for the bearings which the drive shaft will go through. I still have to have the pulleys and fla...

Wow Steve, that manual is more comprehensive than the original Presto manual!

I like how it gives tips on swarf removal and general recording chain setup.

Hi sjones! Very nice! PM sent about details.

Hi rsimms3, thanks! Hopefully he'll have info for me to get started with some dimensions. I've got a 8GV that this is for, but the 8D and 8DG used the same parts, just a few less features than 8GV. Unfortunately, this lathe was heavily modified, dual feed screws and 16 2/3 rpm adapter on the three s...