Delta Milwaukee 12″ Ball Bearing Lathe (1948)

Delta 4-Speed 12″ Wood Lathe
Delt 16-Speed 12″ Wood Lathe

Delta made two models of the 12″ wood lathe; a 4-speed lathe for wood turning and a 16-speed lathe for wood and light metal work.

This was the perfect lathe for general wood working applications.

By adding the counter shaft unit this lathe could be converted into an efficient and accurate 16-speed lathe for light metal working. With the addition of the compound slide rest, practically everything exept screw cutting could be done. The slower speeds were ideal for large face plate wood turning.

The Delta Milwaukee Design and Contruction Provided Greater Accuracy and Longer Life

The features of this remarkable lathe made it a favorite in thousands of shops throughout this country — Furniture Factories, Cabinet Shops, Specialty Shops, Sash and Door Companies, Sporting Goods Manufactureres, Pattern Shops, Schools, etc.

Lathe Bed: Heavy, substantial, fine-grained cast iron heavily ribbed to provide the utmost in rigidity and accuracy. It was 53 1/2″ long, 8 1/2″ wide, and 4 7?8″ high. Finely gorund and machined ways were 2″ wide front and back.

Headstock: Rigid substantial cast iron body was adapted to take a V-belt drive from either a bottom mounted or rear mounted motor. Fitted with a belt guard completely covering top of headstock pulley and belt; the guard was instantly removable to facilitate changing belt on pulley cones. With built-in indexing mechanism having two rows of holes – 8 holes and 60 holes in cone pulley, to privide maximum number of index divisions. Index pin was mounted to engage either row of holes.

Spindle: A full 1 1/4″ diameter spindle, with 5/8″ hole through the center to facilitate repetition work. The nose was machined for a No. 2. Morse Taber centers. It was treaded 1″ diameter and 8 threads per inch for chucks and faceplates. The Rear end of spindle has 1″ x 8 left hand thread for outboard work. The spindle was carried on two heavy duty double seal New Departure lubricated-for-life ball bearings, preloaded to insure maximum rigidity and accuracy. The spindle could be quickly removed to facilitate belt removal or installation. The 4-speed model has speeds of 900, 1400, 2200 and 3400 r.p.m. The 16-speed model has speeds from 340 to 3400 r.p.m.

Tailstock: The tailstock was made of substantial, fine-grained cast iron body, with sub-base and provision for set-over of tailstock for center alignment and taper turning. Tailstock locked to bed with wrench operated with large ball-end crank lever actuating lock cams. Sleeve machined for No. 2 Morse Taper centers. Center self-ejecting.

Tool Rest: The lathe was equipped with quick-acting universal tool-rest base, locked to bed by convenient handle at front of base. Tool rests, adjustable in tool-rest base by means of lock screw with ball-end lever.

Efficient Drive: A simple, dependable, V-belt drive– over 90 percent efficient provides plenty of power for all of your work.

Machine Specifications:

Speeds: Wood Turning… 900, 1400, 2200, 3400 r.p.m.
Speeds: Metal Turning…16 speeds – 340 to 3400 r.p.m.
Swings Over Bed… 12″
Between Centers… 37″
Overall Length… 57″
Width… 10 1/2″
Height… 14 3/8″
Height on Stand… 46″
Tool Rest from Floor… 42″
Accurately Ground Ways both front and back… 2″ wide
Spindle Diameter… 1 1/4″
Spindle Hole… 5/8″
Spindle Thread… 1″ – 8 threads.

Catalog Listing

No. 46-305. 4-Speed, 12″ Lathe with tool rest base, 4″ and 12″ tool rests, drive center, cup center, 3″ face plate, V-belt, motor pulley, wrenches, bench with cast iron legs, Without motor or switch rod. Wt. 254 lbs.

No. 46-310. 16-Speed, 12″ Lathe with tool rest base, 4″ and 12″ tool rests, drive center, cup center, 3″ face plate, V-belt, motor pulley, wrenches, bench with cast iron legs and counter shaft assembly. Without motor or switch rod. Wt. 260 lbs.

No. 192. Allen Extension Wrench. Wt. 1/2 lb.

No. 284. V-belt. Outer circumference 30 7/16″

No. 378. Countershaft for 16-speed lathe unit. 3/4″ diameter by 20″ long.

No. 644. V-belt. Outer circumference 66 1/4″

No. 949 1 1/4″ Open End Wrench

No. 1460. 12″ Lathe with tool rest base, 4″ and 12″ tool rests, drive center, cup center, 3″ face plate, V-belt, and wrenches. Without motor pulley, motor, switch rod or bench. Wt. 160 lbs.

No. 1463. Lathe Bench complete with top, shelf, cast iron legs and bolts. Wt. 97 lbs.

https://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pagead/ads?client=ca-pub-8826739419734613&output=html&h=280&adk=3126230758&adf=910521386&pi=t.aa~a.922877286~i.54~rp.4&w=625&fwrn=4&fwrnh=100&lmt=1677021020&num_ads=1&rafmt=1&armr=3&sem=mc&pwprc=9936961873&ad_type=text_image&format=625×280&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.old-woodworking-tools.net%2Fdelta-12-inch-wood-lathe-1948.html%3Funique%3D16770210180655210&fwr=0&pra=3&rh=157&rw=625&rpe=1&resp_fmts=3&wgl=1&fa=27&dt=1677021020752&bpp=2&bdt=2194&idt=2&shv=r20230215&mjsv=m202302130101&ptt=9&saldr=aa&abxe=1&cookie=ID%3D1f4dea2afcddf26c-2265b4c388da005c%3AT%3D1674067077%3ART%3D1674067077%3AS%3DALNI_MbBpxTXIfg2OEgpbtRrjucdKVtMEQ&gpic=UID%3D0000092cd51e9aa3%3AT%3D1674067077%3ART%3D1677016130%3AS%3DALNI_MbFn6n5YONG7zZuT4ww1ZEDEbtFvQ&prev_fmts=0x0%2C625x280&prev_slotnames=8513869247%2C4633143594%2C2630163437%2C4463132666&nras=3&correlator=1646724303835&frm=20&pv=1&ga_vid=1497382803.1674067078&ga_sid=1677016130&ga_hid=641994954&ga_fc=1&u_tz=-480&u_his=1&u_h=864&u_w=1536&u_ah=816&u_aw=1536&u_cd=24&u_sd=1.25&adx=365&ady=2198&biw=1343&bih=694&scr_x=0&scr_y=289&eid=44759837%2C44777876%2C44759875%2C44759926%2C44774292%2C44784460&oid=2&psts=AD37Y7tFS0t0SwTc3Vd8dfpdqhFzs5csH0YM83pS8pRLwRZwAYV06hXtq3hAAFhk9JqYdtvYvJjn0ox4henJeQ%2CAD37Y7uAbdKyo7JLGo3nkzGxib5rvyrs2h_hxIY7a_jicPWYCkhvUfK_pDhKMTaeMiVUdo-68eXQosh1mpEn6w%2CAD37Y7swo_a1JrJ0RP1XCln7g1F7HI-T97MTSvHBDVSXBVjqCxGjnINMTByTh7QezdC97nUwrWWlG4kIgDKeDg&pvsid=1314799026063038&tmod=541101620&nvt=1&fc=1408&brdim=0%2C3%2C0%2C3%2C1536%2C0%2C1354%2C784%2C1343%2C694&vis=1&rsz=%7C%7Cs%7C&abl=NS&fu=128&bc=23&ifi=7&uci=a!7&btvi=2&fsb=1&xpc=xpE74RzTMl&p=http%3A//www.old-woodworking-tools.net&dtd=19

No. 1464. Countershaft Unit, consisting of (2) No. 49-370 hangers, No. 378 shaft, No. 718 pulley (specify bore for motor), No. 720 pulley (3/4″ bore for shaft), No. 932 pulley (3/4″ bore), No. 284 V-belt, (2) No. 49-374 collars, bolts and nuts. Wt. 20 lbs.

Recommended Motors:
Light Duty – No. 62-610, 66-320
Medium Duty – 82-710, 86-520
Heavy Duty – 82-910, 86-720.

Delta Milwaukee Lathe Features

Famous indexing mechanism — two rows of holes in headstock pulley, 8 holes and 60 holes, can be engaged at will by the unique indexing pin. You can obtain the maximum number of index divisions.

Substantial, fine-grained cast iron tailstock, with sub-base and provisions for set-over of tailstock for center alignment and taper turning. Tailstock locks to bed with wrench conveniently located at front.

Universal Tool Support is exceptionally handy and convenient in action. Heavy and substantial it locks to bed at any position or angle with convenient lever at the front where it does not interfere with work.

Massive Lathe Bed made of fine grained cast iron, heavily ribbed to provide the greatest rigidity and accuracy. 53 1/2″ long, 8 1/2″ wide, 4 7/8″ high. Finely macined ways are 2″ wide at front and back..

Graduated Tailstock Sleeve Operated with large ball crank handle and locked in place with convenient ball end lever. Sleeve machined for a No. 2 Morse Taper centers. Centers were self ejecting.

Safety Headstock was completely enclosed and enclosed the pulley and belt from front and top of lathe. The belt drive could be taken from wither the bottom or the rear which was an added convenience.

Leave a Comment