anyone know anything at all about a Hardinge 9X36 Model S lathe???
its obviously quite old as the nameplate added by the US Navy says it was at naval torpedo station number 143...so im guessing WWII era or before??
any info would be appreciated...thanks in advance

Like this one?
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There is lots of info there and you can hunt around at the site and maybe find some more info...Bob

actually the one we have isnt quite that old and it doesnt have change gears or even any way to thread. (pics attached)

This one, 3rd lathe down...Bob
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so basically this lathe cant do anything without a ton of accessories that probably dont exist anymore...LOL thats just the way my bosses buy things for some odd reason

You could always try to see if they have any spares in stock,

Hardinge Machine Tools
Address:
Silverton Road
Marsh Barton
Exeter
Devon
EX2 8NN
United Kingdom
Telephone: +44 1392 208181

Still being made but probably a little different now

I would be a good second operation lathe where a part is started in one machine and tranfered to another to finish other than that it wouldn't do me any good either. I am sure there are collectors out ther that would pay a good buck for it. Then have him get something nice...Bob

It's a lathe, besides a chuck, a tailstock and a tool holder what other accessories do you need?

real modern machine compared to my WW1 era shop lathe.

A fancy machine doesn't not make you a Machinist.

Threading would be a plus. My machines aren't fancy either just pratical. I can make about anything that comes thru the door. I wouldn't know how to run a real nice one...Bob

They must have a cult following also, look at the lathe at the top of this machining forum...Bob
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A good basic lathe can make it's own accessories as long as the operator's imagination is operational.... (Glenn's quote about smiths making the tools also applies to machinists)
no insult intended here just a fact

C.B.

I remember the old timers of my youth stating that a lathe is one of the few machines than is able to replicate itself.

Was thinking the same thing as Jr. My high school machine shop teacher would say just that and I have no doubt he could have done it. Of course the lathe would need to cut threads to do that but I would be happy to find this little Hardinge in my shop.

Heck,My son-in-law built a Gingery Lathe out of car pistons, a 6' ladder and auto running boards.
His first threading setup used All Thread with a 10 tpi. He did use a bigger lathe to build the head, then used the head to build the tail. It was quite the project, and I would have spent the money to buy one, but by the time he had it built it he had a good idea how to use it.

Home-built Gingery Lathe

course it would be nice to be able to find the accessories for the shop lathe so it becomes more than just a big heavy red paperweight that goes round n round..

I have 100's of pics on stuff i made with my lathe for my lathe that i plan on putting on this site sometime. I make so much nice usefull tooling i don't buy anything...Bob
southbend10k : SouthBendLathe10k and lathe projects.

My high school machine shop class echoed the same words. There were also posted signs all over that read:

"Don't say you can't, say you will try".

Needless to say, nearly 40 years later, I'm still trying-it

keithh999

No you are right. That lathe can't do anything. Although it was probably the most precise lathe at the time for its size, it can't do anything without an operator that knows how to use it and set it up. Why don't you ship it out to me. I know what to do with it.

Jay