John,
My first (and probably last) real lathe is an Atlas/Craftsman 12" without a
quick-change gearbox. It is rigid enough for my turning needs and the 12" swing
gives a lot of extra room for unusual jobs. It came with a 4-jaw chuck, and I
only recently got a 3-jaw. All in all, a very nice and versatile machine. A
smaller lathe would be good for turning only, but the Atlas/Craftsman, with a
milling attachment and a drawbar collet closer for endmills is a very useful
combination. Hope this helps.
Jim
Don't raise the bridge, lower the water