FIRST-CLASS 5-IN. CENTRE LATHE, WITH TRAVERSING MANDRELAND OVERHEAD APPARATUS, BY JAMES MUNRO, LAMBETH.
THE LATHE & ITS USES;
OR,
INSTRUCTION IN THE ART OF TURNING
WOOD AND METAL.
INCLUDING
A DESCRIPTION OF THE MOST MODERN APPLIANCES FOR THE
ORNAMENTATION OF PLANE AND CURVED SURFACES.
With an Appendix,
IN WHICH IS DESCRIBED AN
ENTIRELY NOVEL FORM OF LATHE FOR ECCENTRIC AND ROSE
ENGINE TURNING; A LATHE AND PLANING
MACHINE COMBINED;
And other Valuable Matter relating to the Art.
COPIOUSLY ILLUSTRATED.
NEW YORK:
JOHN WILEY & SON, PUBLISHERS,
NO. 2, CLINTON PLACE.
1868.
Although the title of this work is sufficient to declare its contents,a few prefatory remarks may not be superfluous as to its design andthe manner in which that design has been carried out.
It has ever been to the writer a matter of surprise and regret, thatalthough the art of turning has been so long and so successfullypursued in this country, both by artisans and amateurs, no work hasappeared in the English language treating upon the subject, except oneor two sketches and imperfect treatises.
Some years since Mr. Holtzapffel advertised a forthcoming series ofseven volumes, intended to supply this manifest deficiency in ourscientific and mechanical literature, and the subject would have beenhandled by him in a thoroughly exhaustive and masterly manner.
The untimely death of that gentleman occurred after the publicationof the first three volumes, which are indeed complete in themselves,and of immeasurable value to the mechanic and amateur; but whichare unfortunately only introductory, "simple turning by hand-tools"being the special subject of the proposed fourth volume. The presentproprietors of the firm of Holtzapffel & Co. having, in theircatalogue even up to the time of the most recent edition, continuedto advertise the seven volumes, amateurs especially have anxiouslyhoped for the publication of some part at least of the remainder ofthe series. That expectation is, it is to be feared, little likelyto be rewarded; and, not until that fact had been ascertained withsomething bordering upon certainty, did the author of the presentwork[iv] venture to take up the pen and endeavour to set forth theprinciples and practice of an art which, like so many others, he hasfound so absorbing and attractive, and withal so delightful a sourceof recreation to mind and body. Several things, however, contributedto make the writer hesitate to undertake such a work. In the firstplace he was aware that a number of possible readers would probablybe more competent than himself for such a task, especially those whosemeans might have enabled them to procure a large amount of the mostmodern and approved apparatus connected with the Lathe, and whoseoccupations might allow of more leisure for their extensive use thanfalls to the lot of th