Britannia Lathes

[scottowner]

I have recently purchased a Model 14 Britannia lathe. It is the "New and Improved Self-Acting & Screw cutting" model. Unfortunately it came without its User manual. I would like to correspond with anyone who has a Britannia, either this or any other model. I think mine is the 1896 version !!.

[alanstepney]

I have a couple, one of that era and one slightly newer.

They never did come with manuals, as it was assumed that anyone operating it would know what to do.
Pretty basic lathes, and strongly built.

I understand that the museum in Colchester has (or had) a section devoted to them and Colchester lathes.

[scottowner]

Do you know what the taper should be on the tailstock ? I have measured it but can find nothing in Machinerys Handbook that it relates to. Perhaps Britannia had their own tapers?

[alanstepney]

I dont believe they had a standard taper.
At least, on mine the tapers differ and on the big one, the tapers are different on head and tailstocks.
Most confusing!

At that time it wouldnt have been unusual for a maker to have their own series of tapers.
From memory, that pre-dated the Morse standard.

Despite the drawbacks, they are still a solid reliable lathe that makes a useful addition to the workshop. Heck, "built like a battleship" tends to apply".

[alanstepney]

I checked up. The Morse taper was originated in 1854, so would have been available.
Whether or not the information reached Colchester from the US, I know not.

It isnt too hard to make the taper to fit whatever yours is, and that is probably the easiest option.

I see that a book by and on Britannia's is available from Lathes.co.uk.
(near the top of www.lathes.co.uk/britannia/index.html)

Dont know how much information it contains on yours, but it might be worth investigating.

[chris vine]

I think there are some morse taper reamers on ebay at the moment. They could be useful if you want to try a bit of conversion....

Chris.

[ilvaporista]

Back in the UK I have a Britannia lathe supplied new to the Duke of Southerland's estate in about 1898 by Buck and Hickman. The taper in the headstock is 2MT and it is the model with the ball bearing used as a thrust device at the rear end of the mandrel, hence no hollow mandrel. Centre height is about 5 1/4" IIRC.

No manual was supplied but it is a hefty beast and was originally treadle driven. The place where I bought it from was an old shop with overhead line shafting and flat belts. A bit of a shock to find a place like that in the 1980's.

Can't help with much more information that that. It does still see some use but lack of refinements means more convential lathes are used for normal work.

[alanstepney]

Whilst on the subject of Britannia lathes, according to Lathes.co.uk,
Regarding the Britannia models 18 and 19 it says,

"...a British Admiralty requirement for a self-contained lathe, suitable for shipboard use, that could take heavier-than normal cuts under treadle power alone and remove 1/2" off a 2" or 3" bar in one pass."

The guys must have had well developed leg muscles in those days!
But, I bet they soon learned to sharpen the tools correctly.

[ilvaporista]

Being of very frugal means when the motor packed up on the Unimat SL I made a drive from an old Singer treadle sewing machine. It works a treat and is often around ME and model reailway exhibitions around the Farnham Guildford area on the stand of the local model railway club.

With the Britannia despite having the basics to make a treadle drive I fitted 3/4 hp motor. My father then gave me a lecture on how the youger generation has no staminar.

[scottowner]

When I first got my Britannia I purchased the Britannia DVD from Tony Griffiths at Lathes UK, it proved to be most interesting but did not have the full tech spec for each machine, but nontheless very good overall. The Britannia that "Ilvaporista" has would appear to be a No 15 or No 16 unless he is lucky enough to have a "Treble Geared Lathe as supplied to the British Navy" !!! Roger Hulett

[alanstepney]

Mine is the 19, the Treble geared...etc".
Built like the battleship that it may well have come from!
No treadle, but instead a 2HP motor with hydraulic variable speed drive.

To avoid upsetting anyone, I wont say what I paid, but there ARE bargains around if you just keep your eyes open. Oh, OK, I will say, £40. That was the asking price, and I didnt even bother to make an offer!

[ilvaporista]

Yes mine is a 15 or a 16 from the photos. It also has the optional extra shaft at the rear for surfacing though I have never used it in anger. It was my first lathe, it was so heavy that the shed floor had to be rebuilt to house it. The lathe and loads of accessories and other tools came to £100 in 1981, so compared to £40 today I was ripped off!! It took a year to get it back together (and rebuild the shed, sort out a drive etc) but it worked fine until the arrival of a Murad. When I moved to Italy the cost of shipping put me off so I down sized to an Atlas Nr 10 and now have gone back up in size with a Student,