Results 1 to 5 of 5

Thread: Oliver Lathe

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Northern Utah
    Posts
    4,426

    Oliver Lathe

    I've been wanting to upgrade to a bigger and better lathe for some time now. I've looked at about every lathe you can find. But I had a chance to play for a minute on an old Oliver model 159 at a club meeting recently and it was the smoothest lathe I've ever seen. Does anyone know much about these lathes, where they can be found (I know they're out of business but I've been searching used equipment sites with no luck), and any pros and cons of a machine like this?
    http://www.owwm.com/PhotoIndex/detail.asp?id=3263

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    Brentwood & Altamont, TN
    Posts
    2,334
    Curt,

    Oliver is still in business but, I don't think its the same company. Dev Emch seems to know everything about Olivers, give him a PM, hes usually over on the General Woordworking page... But, best I can tell hes not a turner.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    SE PA - Central Bucks County
    Posts
    65,685
    The Oliver name is still in business but owned by someone else. Old iron is taken care of by another firm...Dev has posted the name in the General Woodworking forum recently, but I don't recall which thread. Use the "Advanced Search" feature of SMC and you should be able to come up with it.

    As to smoothness, you can get there today, but you're talking on of the premium machines, such as OneWay, Stubby, Vicmark, etc.
    --

    The most expensive tool is the one you buy "cheaply" and often...

  4. #4

    Oliver lathes

    Hi Curt.

    I have recently found a resource for Oliver lathes. Don @
    www.vintageamerican.com/ (253)-857-5088
    It is located in Washington state ,this guy is amazing to say the least .He has hundreds of lathes, tools of every kind , he has been restoring machines for a long time,and is very easy to talk to.I am buying a oliver model 24 from him.he has an oliver that will extend to twenty feet.Is that big enough?

    best of luck
    I think I got saw dust in my drowers again......


  5. #5
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Location
    Barberton,OH
    Posts
    100

    Oliver 159

    The Oliver 159 is still being made by Eagle Machinery in the old Oliver plant in Grand Rapids, MI. The owner is Rich Fink and he was a 25 year employee of OLiver and he has probably forgot more about Oliver then anyone else knows. The 159 is an outstanding lathe, very small by Oliver standards. I've turned on a Oliver 22, 26 and owned a 20B till a Zimmermann patternmakers lathe showed up at my door. Parts are still avaliable for just about anything Oliver as long as you really need it.

    Jeff Singleton

Similar Threads

  1. Parts for an Oliver 159-A lathe????
    By Bob Weisner in forum General Woodworking and Power Tools
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 12-18-2005, 11:14 AM
  2. Weight of an Oliver Model 159-A Wood lathe
    By Bob Weisner in forum General Woodworking and Power Tools
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 12-17-2005, 6:56 PM
  3. Powermatic 3520A is on its way!
    By Kent Cori in forum Turner's Forum
    Replies: 13
    Last Post: 11-27-2005, 5:49 PM
  4. Oliver lathe parts source
    By Keith Cope in forum Turner's Forum
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 12-04-2004, 11:05 AM
  5. VS Motor for Mini Lathe for under $125
    By Mark Kauder in forum Forum Tech Support
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: 12-13-2003, 5:21 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •