Comments on: What is it?

By: Nick

Nick — Fri, 06 May 2011 23:41:46 +0000

That looks like some sort of wheel cutting machine to me. The disk held in the turns looks to be a blank. The cutter is in the top right of the machine. It pivots down to cut the wheel and the depth is set by the 2 thumb screws which contact the 2 flat plates on the middle left. The different pulleys could be used to automatically index the blank.

By: Dushan Grujich

Dushan Grujich — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 12:14:04 +0000

G’day Michael!

You can have a peek at some of my tool if You follow the link:

http://www.geocities.ws/dushang2000/

Cheers

Dushan

By: Michael

Michael — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 22:13:40 +0000

Dushan is correct, of course, I would love to see his stock of tools. The picture posted by Jason is a “rounding up” tool and looks to be the exact model I have.

By: J.Peter

J.Peter — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 01:40:18 +0000

Dushan, now there is an answer that makes since. You always have very knowledgeable posts on HM about tools so I am sure you are right. Thank you for solving an old mystery.

By: Dushan Grujich

Dushan Grujich — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 23:22:32 +0000

Good Day JP,

The set shown on the photograph is a set of turning arbours which are used in turns between centres and arbours are driven by a bow. The intended purpose is for turning small parts like balance spring collets, or retaining collets for cylinders and similar parts of brass or steel. There is no need to use shellac, part worked on is held by friction, that is the reason for such a large number. Each one covers a small diameter range, if You look closely at them You will notice that they are conical to allow holding of the work-piece by friction.

I have two sets, one for larger parts and one for smaller, e.g. balance spring collets for lever escapement and larger for cylinder balance spring collets since collets for cylinders are of larger diameter, same as the cylinder itself.

They are of slightly different form, intended for use in watchmaker’s lathe between centres to be driven by lathe driver.

If You would like to see them I shall send You few images.

Turning arbours are a simple tool, but very effective, if one knows how to use them.

Cheers

Dushan

By: Jason

Jason — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 22:47:12 +0000

I am not exactly sure what bits are pictured above, but I think we can all agree that they are some type of bits ( hence the variety of sizes) used for watchmaking back in the day!

Polishing is a good guess.

By: Prem C

Prem C — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 17:57:39 +0000

Hi Jp,
Maybe you have stumbled on an antique mainspring winder? The terminology ‘Jeu d’arbres lisses’ – rectifies a la meuele translates into English- One set of free arbors/ polished with stone. Cheers!

By: J.Peter

J.Peter — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 14:09:35 +0000

This is the best guess yet. I can definitely imagine using them between centers to turn something with a hole in the center.

By: J.Edwards

J.Edwards — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 22:04:19 +0000

Do you have access to larger images, J.Peter? They look like simple ferrules to me, to be used to turn between centers. I have never used them on any work myself nor do I own a set. The longer side of the shaft is the side that the piece to be worked on would be mounted, using shellac et cetera. The ferrule would then be mounted between centers and driven with a bow and string. While they aren't mainspring winders, wnkt, one could use them to polish the inner surface of a barrel. The parts made, or worked on, using these ferrules have to be hollow or open in the center (off-center to turn eccentrically). The varying sizes allow for differing diameters to be worked on. The ferrules hold the potential to be used to gear a turns up or down, but at these sizes wouldn't serve much effect. The photo that you linked to is a form of wheel topping engine, Jason. I have never seen a wheel topping engine with interchangeable pulleys, as you suggest, only interchangeable supports and cutters.

By: Jason

Jason — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 18:39:45 +0000

Different sizes for different sizes of parts. I am not 100% sure of what parts are created, because during my 7 hour tour I was mostly listening to French, that was then translated to English. I am pretty sure the Head Watchmaker at Audemars Piguet SA (After Sales Service) said they still use the old fashioned machine to create certain parts for very old watches, where no parts are still available. Using different bits they can essentially machine wheels, hammers, gears, etc…. I am not a watchmaker, so I do not know the deepest technical terms, I can only report on what I was told. As far as the bits you ahve posted I am not 100% sure that this is what they were for, but I think it is a very good guess.