Presto 8DG or 8GV prototype rebuild - lathe in a box

This is where record cutters raise questions about cutting, and trade wisdom and experiment results. We love Scully, Neumann, Presto, & Rek-O-Kut lathes and Wilcox-Gay Recordios (among others). We are excited by the various modern pro and semi-pro systems, too, in production and development. We use strange, extinct disc-based dictation machines. And other stuff, too.

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Simon
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Presto 8DG or 8GV prototype rebuild - lathe in a box

Post: # 8700Unread post Simon
Sat May 01, 2010 9:29 am

Presto 8DG rebuild or 8GV prototype.

Well what I have bought is a lathe in a box. Well more like six boxes.

Thanks to Dietrich and his partner for finding it and letting me have a deal - I was able to get this shipped all the way from Canada to New York to the UK. Man what a trip.

Thanks again guys.

Well it came like this.

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ID plate - seems to be a late ser number.

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A lathe in a box - it is a bit like buying a bike in a box. - I must be mad.

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I had to take the top off to get it up the stairs

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Top on Lathe on.

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This looks to be a later version as it has three motors.

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With adapter plate. - Never - never take apart the main drive gear in the gearbox.

The springs went flying and it took me about two hours to put back.

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Desk switches - this is the later version the early was a rotary switch selecting 78 and 33

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More to come - watch this space.

I am looking for parts. so if anyone out there has any knocking about that would be great.

As I said I think this is a prototype as I will get onto the workings later on.
Last edited by Simon on Sun May 02, 2010 10:14 am, edited 1 time in total.
Happy to learn something new.
Wanted: Stylus for Presto, Mono heads Grampian, Fairchild, Presto, Fairchild 740 lathes, Presto 8n, 8d 8dg lathes or parts or Presto or wot ever recording Amps, PM me what you have for sale.

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TotalSonic
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Post: # 8707Unread post TotalSonic
Sat May 01, 2010 2:21 pm

Simon - congratulations on your acquisition! It definitely looks like it will be a really great lathe once it's up and running. 8GV's were indeed pretty rare - if this is in fact setup for variable pitch then you've got a really nice piece indeed. Wonder if something like a Pitchbox 98 could be used to control it. What kind of cutter head and amps do you have for it? Best of luck in getting it up and running soon!

Best regards,
Steve Berson

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subkontrabob
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Post: # 8708Unread post subkontrabob
Sat May 01, 2010 3:19 pm

Beautiful!! :D

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dietrich10
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Post: # 8711Unread post dietrich10
Sat May 01, 2010 5:13 pm

Is the box that split the one with the motors?

Cannot wait to see it running again.

someone n spain was selling 8dg with pitch98 here on the forum recently so it can be done.

BTW-story is someone gave or left this at the Lacquer Channel in Toronto at some point.
cutting lacquers-vms70 system

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blacknwhite
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Post: # 8712Unread post blacknwhite
Sat May 01, 2010 6:13 pm

Congrats Simon - looking forward to seeing pics once you've got it all assembled!

- Bob

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emorritt
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Post: # 8714Unread post emorritt
Sat May 01, 2010 7:33 pm

Steve do you happen to know anything about the Presto 14B? I helped Alan Graves out with some of his Presto website - I have a lot of old presto literature including a sales flyer for the S-1 head (he didn't post it, but used the photo of the 14B on his site). I've never seen a 14 personally or for sale anywhere; was this another one of Presto's 'vapourware' units like the S-1 head? The 14 looks sort of like a beefed up Fairchild clone.

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Simon
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Post: # 8716Unread post Simon
Sun May 02, 2010 6:53 am

I have now spent nearly 14 hrs rebuilding this bit

I am not sure what is missing yet.

Has anyone seen anything like this?

I am not sure if this put together in the right way as I have no drawings

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As I said I am not sure if any of this is right

I think I need rubber o rings on the drive wheels - but I am finding them hard to find.

I am not sure how this works

When it was all in bits on the floor, it is hard to understand what is right.

I believe the big wheels are pushed onto the smaller drive wheels on the shafts via spring.

I am not sure how the middle part of the drive works yet.

I will post some pictures of the centre drive shortly.

Lets hope someone here has seen something like this before.

Lathe Trolls.
Happy to learn something new.
Wanted: Stylus for Presto, Mono heads Grampian, Fairchild, Presto, Fairchild 740 lathes, Presto 8n, 8d 8dg lathes or parts or Presto or wot ever recording Amps, PM me what you have for sale.

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Simon
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Post: # 8719Unread post Simon
Sun May 02, 2010 7:30 am

Is the box that split the one with the motors?

Yes
Happy to learn something new.
Wanted: Stylus for Presto, Mono heads Grampian, Fairchild, Presto, Fairchild 740 lathes, Presto 8n, 8d 8dg lathes or parts or Presto or wot ever recording Amps, PM me what you have for sale.

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Simon
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Post: # 8720Unread post Simon
Sun May 02, 2010 7:37 am

Image
Happy to learn something new.
Wanted: Stylus for Presto, Mono heads Grampian, Fairchild, Presto, Fairchild 740 lathes, Presto 8n, 8d 8dg lathes or parts or Presto or wot ever recording Amps, PM me what you have for sale.

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fraggle
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Post: # 8726Unread post fraggle
Mon May 03, 2010 12:13 am

good luck with that simon.
looks great hopefully you can find more technical information or someone with the same lathe can take some photos!
very nice dude:)

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Aussie0zborn
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Post: # 8736Unread post Aussie0zborn
Mon May 03, 2010 12:18 pm

Interesting project. Good luck with it!

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Simon
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Post: # 8797Unread post Simon
Sat May 08, 2010 7:04 pm

Video of the variable pitch system.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4E6ysveYpg


I got the 33 and 78 speeds working

Working on the 45 motor now.
Last edited by Simon on Sun May 09, 2010 5:38 am, edited 1 time in total.
Happy to learn something new.
Wanted: Stylus for Presto, Mono heads Grampian, Fairchild, Presto, Fairchild 740 lathes, Presto 8n, 8d 8dg lathes or parts or Presto or wot ever recording Amps, PM me what you have for sale.

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fraggle
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Post: # 8798Unread post fraggle
Sat May 08, 2010 11:33 pm

hm for some reason i cannot watch it simon..

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blacknwhite
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Post: # 8799Unread post blacknwhite
Sun May 09, 2010 12:18 am

Simon,

I'm following your thread, and interested to see how your project is turning out.

I cannot watch your MySpace video either: MySpace says, "Sorry, the video you're trying to access is Private. Log in to verify that you can watch it."

I don't have a MySpace account. Can you put it on YouTube?

Very interesting project, I have never even heard of a Presto variable-pitch system before,

- Bob

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Simon
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Post: # 8801Unread post Simon
Sun May 09, 2010 5:39 am

Happy to learn something new.
Wanted: Stylus for Presto, Mono heads Grampian, Fairchild, Presto, Fairchild 740 lathes, Presto 8n, 8d 8dg lathes or parts or Presto or wot ever recording Amps, PM me what you have for sale.

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Simon
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Post: # 8813Unread post Simon
Mon May 10, 2010 10:40 am

I am looking to copy a Presto 78 rpm adapter motor controller board

fitted to the Presto 8DG & the 66A

Anyone on here got one of these babies?

Can anyone help?
Happy to learn something new.
Wanted: Stylus for Presto, Mono heads Grampian, Fairchild, Presto, Fairchild 740 lathes, Presto 8n, 8d 8dg lathes or parts or Presto or wot ever recording Amps, PM me what you have for sale.

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cymbalism
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Post: # 8817Unread post cymbalism
Mon May 10, 2010 8:57 pm

gorgeous! you'll have to let us know when the first cut happens! :)
all the best!
- tommie 'plan 9' emmi
poly-cut lathe cuts / cymbalism recordings

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Simon
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Post: # 8820Unread post Simon
Tue May 11, 2010 7:04 am

I will be getting the bottles of beer out.
Happy to learn something new.
Wanted: Stylus for Presto, Mono heads Grampian, Fairchild, Presto, Fairchild 740 lathes, Presto 8n, 8d 8dg lathes or parts or Presto or wot ever recording Amps, PM me what you have for sale.

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blacknwhite
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Post: # 8840Unread post blacknwhite
Wed May 12, 2010 8:27 pm

Nice! That's a significant chunk of machinery there, looks like a cross-breed between a Presto 6N and a Scully...

- Bob

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Simon
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Post: # 8841Unread post Simon
Thu May 13, 2010 5:43 am

The last in the range - Presto 8GV has a very simular system.

this lathe is made up of 8DG parts and later 8GV parts

This is why I think it is a prototype.
Happy to learn something new.
Wanted: Stylus for Presto, Mono heads Grampian, Fairchild, Presto, Fairchild 740 lathes, Presto 8n, 8d 8dg lathes or parts or Presto or wot ever recording Amps, PM me what you have for sale.

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