On 2007-12-01, oldjag wrote:
I brought home a Clausing 1300 lathe (13" x 36") that has a somewhat
peculiar cross slide. There is a main cross slide, with the normal
power cross feed, but instead of a normal compound on top, the main
side has T slots towards the front and rear. A regular Aloris tool
post is attached with a small base plate bolted down to the T slots.
Since It appears this is the way the machine was made, what was the
main use for such an adaptation?

It is for use with a bed turret in place of a tailstock. Most
of the turning is done by fixtures in the turret -- turning to diameter
(box tool) external threading (Geometric die heads), internal threading
(either releasing tap holders for smaller threads, or Geometric
collapsing taps for larger threads), knurling (several styles of
knurling tools), end drilling (bits in chucks in the turret), reaming
(floating self-aligning reamer holder) and other things which I'm
probably overlooking.

The fancy cross slide will likely have one tool (upside down
parting tool) in the back tool holder (which you are missing), and
perhaps a tool to bevel the workpiece in the front tool holder.

I'm guessing I need to find an
entire compound/cross feed assembly if I want to be able to cut
angles, chamfers etc. Since the lathe seems in pretty good good
condition,

Does it have a longitudinal leadscrew? If so, I'll bet that it
is in excellent condition. Mine was on my 12" which came with the bed
turret, but the standard cross-slide and compound. All the threading
had been done with Geometric style tools, so there was almost no wear on
the leadscrew or half-nuts. There was a threading dial -- in one of the
drawers. It had never been mounted to the carriage. :-)

I'd really like to figure a way to install the normal
compound or adapt a compound from an other lathe. Any ideas or
sources for a used compound?

Hmm ... you might be able to make a ring which bolts down to the
T-slots to hold down a normal compound -- perhaps from a 12" lathe,
which may be more common.

Take the model number and serial number and contact Clausing
Service Center. They'll happily sell you for very little a photocopy of
the manual adapted to the serial number of your machine. They can also
probably tell you what year it was sold -- and to whom. (Mine was 1957,
and sold to a machine dealer in New York -- not to the end user.)

Good Luck,
DoN.

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