Help buying this lathe

[Tom Baugues]

I'm looking at buying a older Delta lathe that a guy has listed in his garage sale ad for this weekend. I had him send me a couple photos. Can someone tell me anything about it and what it might be worth? He said he thought it was about 50 years old but runs good. No model number found. It is a Delta /Rockwell. About 40" long.

[Rob Mathis]

I have one that is a 1947.

See my post from about 6-8 months ago.
http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthre...ighlight=lathe

[M Toupin]

It's a Delta 1460, 12" swing by about 38" long. It's complete with the cast iron legs which add quite a bit to the value, but it looks like the tail stock has been traded out with a newer one. I don't recall off the top of my head when they stopped making that model, but it was pre 1975 or so. Check out owwm.com for manuals etc.

Nice mid duty lathe cleaned up.

Mike

[Bob Bergstrom]

Great starter lathe. Almost bullet proof. Check the quill threads on the tailstock are not striped. Bearings are fairly easy to replace. Check the drive pulley to see if the index notches are intact. It is a good buy at $300 to $350. Look for cracks in the cast iron. Cast parts are hard to get (no longer made). I had one like it for 5 or 6 years and it was great.

[Joseph M Lary]

I had a little new one then that I bought 2 years ago for 40.00 it was a good starter. mine had a newer motor on it . I broke the banjo and got another . sold it last week for 175.00 . I would want to see it run and i would not give more the 75 to 100 for it.
This is the picture of the one I sold .

[Tom Baugues]

I just noticed in his e-mail he did say $500.00. That may be a little too much. Yes?

[Rich Souchek]

Tom,
If he wants $500 for it, ask him where the other $300 or $400 is?
Got a bit newer version that cann't get sold for $200, even had a 2 hp VFD with it and base for $300 total. No bites in Houston.
But, it is a nice lathe and is built well.
Rich S.

[Joseph M Lary]

If he is wanting 500 he will have that for a long time . you can find a good lathe to start with for about 150 200. you still have to get tools ,grinder ,then a chuck those thing you can keep when you up grade in a few years to a newer lathe.

[Frank Drew]

I sold one a little over a year ago for, I think, $650, but I'd retrofitted it with variable speed and reversing, and had packed up the head- and tailstocks to swing 19" faceplate work over the bed. Plus I threw in a bunch of tooling.

[Jim Underwood]

For that kind of money, I'd look into a brand new Jet 1220.

[robert hainstock]

50 bucks is a high price for that ooold turkey. I turned on one of those in the fifties.
Bob

[curtis rosche]

i got may craftsman which is older and only 9 inches. for the equivelent of $50 if you go over to www.owwm.org you could get that lathe for about 100-150$ it is worth that much. it would only be worth 500 if it was in excellent condition, all the original parts where there and the paint wasnt scratched

[Garth Jones]

I paid $650 for a similar lathe a few years ago, but mine is in absolutely mint condition - everything is rock solid, many accessories, etc. etc. It looks like it's only been out of the box for a few weeks. The seller also threw in a few extras, which sweetened the deal.

I agree with everybody else - the lathe in the photo is worth much less - if he will not take $100 or so, look elsewhere.

Cheers,
Garth

[Bernie Weishapl]

I agree that I would look at the Jet 1220. It will turn 12" and is a solid lathe. $500 is way to much for that lathe. If it has a say 1 hp with VFD and some tooling yea that might work.

[David Hostetler]

I just noticed in his e-mail he did say $500.00. That may be a little too much. Yes?

Around here those lathes go for $200.00 to $250.00 in that condition... Yes it is a nice piece of equipment if it is running right, and everything lines up, but it is certainly a long way from ideal, and a long way from worth $500.00. Depending on where you live, your mileage may vary...