This volume, in a sense the companion volume to Holtzapffel’s Ornamental or Complex Turning, introduces the reader to all. phases of the simple lathe. A very full historical introduction traces the development of the individual parts of the lathe from India, Persia and China up to the modern foot lathe still used in the twentieth century. Then comes full coverage of the use of the lathe: apparatus added to the lathe for specific purposes—the division plate and index, boring collars, the slide rest, the spiral apparatus, lifting blocks and lengthening bearers; chucks and apparatus for fixing the various works in the lathe; the elementary practice of softwood turning; hardwood and ivory turning; metal turning; and screw cutting.
The final third is devoted to many specific projects which demonstrate the power of the lathe: the billiard ball and other accurate spheres; various works formed within the sphere (the Chinese ball, the Singapore ball, polyhedra compound forms nested inside a turned polyhedra box); egg cups, salt cellars, flower holders, ash trays, flour sifters, candle sticks, Greek and Etruscan vases, menu holders, tableware, wall mirrors, chandeliers and a hanging jardinière. A supplementary chapter gives information on dyeing, staining, turning pipes in meerschaum, and other useful information.
The approach throughout is thoroughly practical. 771 figures and 22 plates illustrate almost every concept, method or object discussed. The summation of years of research and practical work, there is much here you could find nowhere else.
Unabridged republication of original (1881) edition, published as Volume IV of the five- volume work Turning and Mechanical Manipulation. 771 figures. 22 plates. Index, xvi + 592pp.