For the antique collector who knows quality.

Bronze, copper, steel and ebony antique Swiss watchmakers combination lathe, 1860. Very rare in New Zealand and increasingly so internationally.

There is no makers’ mark (which was usual apparently) but the lathe is identical to those manufactured by G. Ve Vauscher Jeanneret Fleurier. The letters J.B.P are stamped into the rear hand crank mount but I suspect they are the owners initials. These hand cranked lathes were superseded by the end of the century so they represent the high point of machine as handmade art form coinciding with the golden age of Swiss mechanical watch and clock  manufacturing.

The lathe is 480mm long by 260mm wide and 280mm high on a specially made pohutakawa base. It has a tool post, compound cross slide and a tail stock.

While the lathe is in great condition overall and more complete than many I have seen it is still not fully complete. According to lathes.co.uk there was a unique wedge adjusting mechanism that attached to the cutter holder on the compound cross slide to incrementally adjust the cutting tool.

There is also a sliding pin missing from the crank shaft. What the purpose of it was is unknown.

There is some minor damage to 3 teeth on the hand crank gears which does not affect performance. Also the thumbscrew that tightens the tool post is not original.

Overall this is a very beautiful, rare, functional and collectable artifact. The attention to detail is evident with the ebony crank handles and decorative touches on the adjusting knobs.