Viceroy TDS1/1G.B.L service
Posted: Wed 13 Sep , 2006 9:19 am
Hello
I am now the proud owner of a Denford Viceroy lathe.
I was able to trace the history of this particular lathe. It was purchased by the first owner in about 1979 and imported to New Zealand. That was at a time when obtaining foreign currency required a special import license. Those were the days when you could buy a new Porshe, and sell it 2 years later for more than new price. Import licenses and foreign currency were very difficult to obtain. There was lots of bureaucratic red tape to hack through in a system designed to constrict the flow of imported goods. For that reason, there may only be a very few of these lathes in NZ.
The lathe was purchased by a fitter & turner who owned/maintained a bottling company in New Plymouth. His work gave him the justification he needed to be permitted to import a lathe. He only used it for model engineering. When he passed away, a friend, a fitter & turner and fellow model engineer then purchased the lathe from the estate.
From there, it was sold to a "dealer" who was also a model engineer. He only kept it for a short time until on-selling it for a significant profit. About 4 years ago, it was sold to a production engineer in Warkworth. He used it for rebuilding racing kart engines.
I purchased the lathe a few weeks ago. I live in Wellington, NZ so I had to drive 1480km to collect the lathe and bring it home.
On the whole, this lathe has seen light service despite its age. It hasn't been thrashed in the educational system like many similar lathes of this size. There is no chuck rash on the cross slide. It's in generally good condition and includes:
4 way plus 2-way tool posts.
an old modular quick change tool post system (not a Denford item)
Denford taper turning attachment,
live centre (but no dead center)
3 and 4 jaw chucks
face plate
driving plate (but no dogs)
2 drill chucks
boring table (made by the second owner for the first owner)
Denford travelling and fixed steady
Denford lead screw dial indicator
Jacobs chucks
It needs some overdue maintenance so I have begun to strip it down for a clean and relub (photos to follow). After speaking to the previous 3 owners, I know that it hasn't received to much in the way of maintenance.
Anyway, my intention is to strip down the lathe, clean, relube and reassemble. I aim to post progress with how-did photos and notes with some questions as I go along. I have a basic workshop and I don't have the time to do anything to fancy like repainting. The original condition of the paint indicate how little use this lathe has seen. Repainting would remove this "evidence" and may devalue the lathe.
The name plate specifies Esso Firmax 3 grease and Conray 65 oil. These aren't available any more. Based on advice from the Mobil technician here, I will use Mobil XP222 grease instead of Firmax. The local tech said no one makes grease with specs as bad (by modern standards) as Firmax.
I'm going to use straight 80/90 gear oil (not EP) for the apron and enclosed gearbox. Semi-liquid grease for the open but covered gears on the head stock. Bedway oil for the exposed sliding surfaces.
I just want to give a good service so it will last another 27 years.
I am now the proud owner of a Denford Viceroy lathe.
I was able to trace the history of this particular lathe. It was purchased by the first owner in about 1979 and imported to New Zealand. That was at a time when obtaining foreign currency required a special import license. Those were the days when you could buy a new Porshe, and sell it 2 years later for more than new price. Import licenses and foreign currency were very difficult to obtain. There was lots of bureaucratic red tape to hack through in a system designed to constrict the flow of imported goods. For that reason, there may only be a very few of these lathes in NZ.
The lathe was purchased by a fitter & turner who owned/maintained a bottling company in New Plymouth. His work gave him the justification he needed to be permitted to import a lathe. He only used it for model engineering. When he passed away, a friend, a fitter & turner and fellow model engineer then purchased the lathe from the estate.
From there, it was sold to a "dealer" who was also a model engineer. He only kept it for a short time until on-selling it for a significant profit. About 4 years ago, it was sold to a production engineer in Warkworth. He used it for rebuilding racing kart engines.
I purchased the lathe a few weeks ago. I live in Wellington, NZ so I had to drive 1480km to collect the lathe and bring it home.
On the whole, this lathe has seen light service despite its age. It hasn't been thrashed in the educational system like many similar lathes of this size. There is no chuck rash on the cross slide. It's in generally good condition and includes:
4 way plus 2-way tool posts.
an old modular quick change tool post system (not a Denford item)
Denford taper turning attachment,
live centre (but no dead center)
3 and 4 jaw chucks
face plate
driving plate (but no dogs)
2 drill chucks
boring table (made by the second owner for the first owner)
Denford travelling and fixed steady
Denford lead screw dial indicator
Jacobs chucks
It needs some overdue maintenance so I have begun to strip it down for a clean and relub (photos to follow). After speaking to the previous 3 owners, I know that it hasn't received to much in the way of maintenance.
Anyway, my intention is to strip down the lathe, clean, relube and reassemble. I aim to post progress with how-did photos and notes with some questions as I go along. I have a basic workshop and I don't have the time to do anything to fancy like repainting. The original condition of the paint indicate how little use this lathe has seen. Repainting would remove this "evidence" and may devalue the lathe.
The name plate specifies Esso Firmax 3 grease and Conray 65 oil. These aren't available any more. Based on advice from the Mobil technician here, I will use Mobil XP222 grease instead of Firmax. The local tech said no one makes grease with specs as bad (by modern standards) as Firmax.
I'm going to use straight 80/90 gear oil (not EP) for the apron and enclosed gearbox. Semi-liquid grease for the open but covered gears on the head stock. Bedway oil for the exposed sliding surfaces.
I just want to give a good service so it will last another 27 years.
