Hi, I have just joined the group. I have just acquired a 1940s vintage AA109 Craftsman Dunlap lathe in good working order and am about to start setting it up in my workshop.
I would appreciate any pointers members of the group can provide about working around its limitations and upgrading it correct them. Immediate concerns: getting readout capability for the cross slide motions and thread cutting tooling. I don't yet have a tool and cutter grinding capability.
BTW my decision to acquire this DIY oriented home workshop lathe despite its limitations was influenced by my father's having worked at Sears Roebuck headquarters in 1940 designing power tools and hand tools. He knew Tom Dunlap well, and described Dunlap as his idol, both as a man and business man.
I do not know whether my father worked on the design of this lathe, but he would at least have known something about its design. My father did for certain design the new 1940 Craftsman drill press models with the strong and rigid "I-beam" type head support.
My father left Sears in 1941 to accept a commission in the Navy. He served as an engineering officer, ultimately as Chief Engineer on USS Tripoli (CVE-64), before returning to civilian life at the end of 1945.
Dave Welsh
Classical Coins
[www dot classicalcoins dot com]
