Newshound wrote:
The variable speed controller on my Chester mini lathe has died, it's a 2A,

I once bought a lathe with a DC motor speed controller which had died.
The original (''50s?) arrangement had DC generated by an AC motor
driving an AC generator. Speed control was by varying the DC voltage.
Howvever this arrangement had expired.

I found an electronic DC motor speed controller on Farnell/ CPC.
They're used on conveyor belts, apparently. I'm not sure about the
voltage, I've a vague idea it was 110V DC max, but can't recall the
details. Try there.