Old Monarch lathe info needed

[KEB]

Acquired a new toy this weekend, and there doesn't seem to be much information available on the web. Wondered if anybody here might be familiar with old (probably pre WW-II) Monarch lathes?

I've attached a couple pictures. The lathe looks like it was originally intended to be driven from a line shaft, with an adapter added to drive the flat belt pulley from an electric motor.

Seems to be in great shape other than being a little dirty. Everything is tight, except for a little backlash in the compound, and the ways don't show any wear at all that I can see. Took a couple quick cuts with it this afternoon, what a huge difference from my old HF mini-lathe. Came with three chucks, a face plate, and a bunch of tooling, and a bunch of controls I haven't figured out to use yet...

The only markings I can find are the plate shown in one of the attached photo's, plus the following on the end of the front way:

LOT NO
112
8

There's also an inspector's name, and the letter "F" or "E", hard to tell. I sent an e-mail with this info to an address I found on the internet for the company that eventually bought Monarch, so we'll see if they come up with anything.

Would greatly appreciate any information anyone could provide. Thanks,

Keith

PS...anyone want to buy a Harbor Freight 7x10 mini-lathe in great shape??

[Hank Czerwick]

I drive by Monarch Machine Tool in Cortland, NY each day on the way to work. According to the web this is the same Monarch MM who have been in Biz for 94 years. So apparently they have relocated. Maybe check with them instead of the company who bought them. Just a thought.

Hank

[J.B. Castagnos]

Some history on Monarch here, but they don't show your lathe.

http://www.lathes.co.uk/monarch/index.html

[K D Redd]

Try www.practicalmachinist.com They have a monarch posting section.

Kent

[KeithW]

Nice find! Looks quite similar to my Sheldon built in the 1930s. What kind of bearings in the headstock? Mine are bronze but some came with rollers or balls. A machinest friend gave me a stearn warning about keeping the head stock bearings properly oiled. Seems he had burned up a set and had to pay big bucks to get some made. Get it level and square and it should have all the precision you will ever need.

keithw

[KEB]

Well, sent an e-mail to the address for Monarch Lathes, got back a response that they don't have any information because its too old. Sent one to Monarch Machine Tool, they said they don't deal with lathes and gave the address for Monarch Lathes I had already tried...so much for info from the manufacturer.

The lathe has split bronze headstock bearings, with shims to adjust the clearances like an old babbit metal bearing in an engine. Can't feel any motion in any of the bearings. Thanks for the heads up on oil, I need to go through & oil all the moving parts. There must be 20 or 30 oil cups on the thing.

Keith

[KeithW]

The directions for the headstock bearings is to oil daily. I keep an oil squirt can by the lathe and oil them every time I turn it on. When my friend burned his up he had to a) find someone with a lathe and the skill to make new ones b) pay them lots of money. That was all the motivation I needed.

Check with Lindsay books for reproductions of old lathe operation and maintance manuals. They may not cover your's specificaly but the basics are the same.

keithw

[PFT]

KEB, I have an old Monarch lathe (22" swing I think, it's under a tarp now and can't get to it easily) with lot no B1706. When I first got it i called the factory in Ohio and they told me that it was probably made in 1923. They don't seem to have much history available.
Not much help, I guess, but mine looks like it might be a little newer than yours.
Best of luck, PT

[KEB]

Thanks for the info. Wonder if the lot numbers were sequential or varied from one model to the next. If the lot numbers were in fact sequential, then mine (lot # 112, machine # 8) must be a real early one.

Keith

[11echo]

KEB ...You my friend are a proud owner of a model "A" Monarch lathe! ...And it probably pre-WWI! I myself have one, picked it up about 2 yr.s ago ...went thru and rebuilt it and use it alot on my hobbyists. You'll not find too much about them, I did run across a copy of an old drawing pointing out the parts, but that's about it. Here's a few pic.s of mine.

[KEB]

Thanks for the info, neat pictures. I wondered how old it might be with the apparently low lot number. On the plate with the feed settings there's a reference to it being licensed under a patent dated 1906, thought I might look up the patent number & see when it expired. I'm sure they would take that off their data plates once they didn't have to pay license fees.

Used it to make a couple gate pins the other day, worked great. Everything seems to be nice & tight, and there's no sign of wear anywhere. Looks like it spent most of its life just sitting. I won't use it every day, at least not until I can retire, but for what I gave for it and all the tooling that came with it I couldn't turn it down.

Keith

[KeithW]

When I got mine I wasn't sure how much I would use it. Turns out I use it a lot.

keithw

[william gundel]

I also have a model a monarch but need more info on the drive gearing tooth counts.I believe it has been altered and some are missing.

[Bob Gibson]

Hi William , you could check out this site it may give you a bit more info
http://www.lathes.co.uk/monarch/index.html
regards Bob

[George Andreasen]

As already mentioned, go to the Practical Machinist site. It's just like Harry's except for machine tool fanatics. There's an entire section on Monarch and another on antique machine tools in general. Good group of people and always willing to help. Just join and introduce yourself as a newbie.....and everyone will want pictures and info on that lathe.

Oh, I wouldn't get rid of that mini lathe too quickly......they make great door stops. Just kidding. It may come in handy for jobs that are too delicate for the big Monarch. Trust me on this, NEVER get rid of a lathe unless you are absolutely sure you have no use for it even if it is a pain to store.

Please don't ask how I know this....................

[n2666s]

I have had a Monarch 14 inch Model "A" conehead now for a couple of years and have been looking for a tailstock as mine came w/o it; it is too nice to part out but w/o the tailstock it is pretty much useless IMO unless I can find or can adapt one; am a newbie but persistantapreciate any info or suggestions......have had a request on Practical M. now for a couple of years w/o any replies

Lou

[i0king0i]

Monarch Model "AA" Link hope this helps!

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[robert massa]

hi 11echo ,
nice looking lathe. i have a lathe exactly like yours and keb's. got a face plate and 3jaw chuck . do you know the taper in the headstock so i can turn between centers ?

[molly3]

I hope it's OK to post a "for sale" here - my husband has a really nice vintage precision dial indicator for a monarch lathe that he wants to sell. His lathe dates from the 1930s. If anyone is interested in the dial indicator send me an email tinytina3@verizon.net and I can email you some pics.

[11echo]

robert massa ...The Model A lathe spindle is a #12 Jarno & the tailstock is Morse Taper#3. Good Luck! ...Mark(11echo)