Peter Lu's article. If Mr Lu is correct, then ornamental turning is 2000 years older than most researchers thought.
I bought this object in Paris. The spiral is an Arcimedian spiral
The 'cut' is aplied on the 'down-stroke' only.
A collection of four quarter size models of early machines I made at KIAD for my final test, they were not well recieved.
A Box lathe, pole lathe, jewellers drill, and a bow drill, note the same bow can be used to power the box lathe.
A simple strap lathe such as used in India in 19c (and Egypt from 5,000 years ago)
This chess piece could have been made on a very simple lathe like the first picture, as all the decoration is applied by hand after turning.
16c Swafh plate "ornamental lathe"
Simple 18c lathe
This is "simple turning" and only requires a lathe similar to the previous picture to make, and a good deal of patience. Note the date 1584.
1805 Rose engine known since 16c. Note the "roses" on the spindle, and the pointer on the slide at the side, which pushes the spindle back as it rotates. The spindle is on a self centering return spring at the front.
This French set was made on a "Rose engine lathe, note the (rather faint) regular markings on the barrels and collars.
This set also was produced on a 16th- 18c rose engine lathe. Note the flower like petals which would have been mirrored in the "rose" on the lathe , with the cam and follower arrangement on the spindle faithfully reproducing the pattern on the piece.
This is a view of the detail of a base from a pawn from the set in the previous picture. It was brought in for photo's by Michael Wiltshire who bought it at the Cholet sale. Thank you Michael. This picture and the next show that the marks are made by an ornamental "rose engine" lathe of the period, 1550-1850
Hmm.. not entirely clear, but, this is the rook base in the same markings, and identical to the pawn base apart from colour.
Profilscheibe, = profile. Abtastrolle, is the pointer which pushes against the profile. This arrangement moves the work over and transmits the fancy shape to the workpiece.
Made on such a lathe from 1585
ditto
An ornamental lathe 19c note the overhead drive hanging down loop of thread to attach to the rotary tool held in the tool post to make the Barleycorns on a set
A Holtz Ornamental lathe, Holtzappfel (1796-1912) was arguably the most famous maker of this type of lathes, however, Fenn, Evans etc. are similar.
The division plate allowed the operator to make repeated equally spaced cuts in the work piece.
360 was the no. of holes in the face of the division plate. 360 because it has a large number of factors, shown above.
An ornamentally turned Rook, made on a Holtz or similar.
The parts
There are 24 large piercings, and 48 of the smaller indents.
For this cut, the workpiece is stationary whilst the cutting tool spins in the tool post and is wound into the work to traverse , and make the cut. Then the workpiece is rotated to the next position and the same procedure is followed, (8 times in this instance.)
Or something like this.
Moxon's recollections of the fire of London. Dating his following intructions to 17c. (1666)
Instructions on how to make a concentric hollow ball, or puzzle ball on a simple lathe. Also from Moxon (pub 1703).
And other oddities
Made on a Holtz or similar, 19c. £3,000
Made on a rose engine, 16c or later, £30, 000
A list of objects made by Victorian turners, from J.J. Holtapffel's Hand or Simple Turning, Principles and Practice 1881 ISBN. (reprint) 0-486-26428-9
Ditto
These three pictures (all from L'Art du Tourneur, Encyclopedie Diderot et Alembert.) show 'rose engine' lathes known from at least 1550.
All objects made on such lathes.
This is a chess set from Diderot. Petits Metiers du Bois (small works in wood) C. 1770 Note the regular marks around the pieces, which would have been applied by 'rose engine'. Also notice that the pieces are in height order, and the knight is next to the queen and the bishop is next to the rook, not as they would appear on a chessboard
A typical 18c. French turners shop The turner on the left puts heavy cuts on a (probably)bedpost. The turner at the rear uses one of two foot operated pole-lathes. The wheel lad is an apprentice.
From, The wooden Bowl by Robin Wood. ISBN. 0-85442-130-0
An early form of mass production, clearly this method could have been used to make knight head blanks, however I have seen no evidence of this, it seems to only have been used for making 'Noahs Ark' figures
I think this is how it would look if one were to apply the previous mass production method to making knights heads. Clearly there is still a good deal of carving to do.
Another interesting page from, The Wooden Bowl By Robin Wood.
