THE ELGIN TOOL WORKS STORY: I am frequently asked about the history of the Elgin Tool Works. Everybody can plainly see that Elgin machines are virtually identical to Hardinge machines. The Elgin Tool Works was started by a renegade group of Hardinge employees who realized that most Hardinge patents had expired. In most any corporation you will have disgruntled employees; this is par for the course. This renegade group of former Hardinge employees made machinery that was every bit as good as Hardinge; in many cases Elgin machinery is beefier than Hardinge just because, I am guessing, they wanted to save design time rather than steel and weight. The nameplate on the lathe below reads, "Elgin Tool Works, 1770 Berteau Ave. at Ravenswood Ave., Chicago, IL." That was done to show that the Elgin Tool Works was just across the street from the Hardinge Manufacturing Company at the intersection of Ravenswood and Berteau Avenues. Elgin Tool Works was capitalizing on the success of the Hardinge Manufacturing Company. The Hardinge Brothers were not stupid; it wasn't long before Hardinge bought out Elgin Tool Works. For awhile some lathes were made and labeled as was the above lathe, "Hardinge, Elgin, manufactured by Hardinge Manufacturing Company, Elgin Tool Works Division, Ravenswood, Chicago, USA." Ravenswood and Berteau Avenues are in my neighborhood. One of these days I will take some pictures of the factory buildings as they are today.
ALL ORIGINAL VINTAGE ELGIN LATHE. This vintage Elgin literature illustrates an Elgin 5c lathe that I am selling. Also find photo of the actual lathe that is available. You will see little difference. The lathe I am offering is as close to what Elgin offered new 60 years ago as you are likely to find. Note the 60 position dividing head, the 4 lock stop positions, the dual T-slot compound, the #2 Morse taper tailstock. The original paint job is worn, but that just gives the lathe genuine character. Note the grey primer underneath the worn paint on the headstock and tailstock. Your typical repaint job just gums up the works and hides defects. If you want to repaint it, fine, but it will lose its character. It is in extremely clean condition with very little wear for a 60 year old lathe. I have owned it for 20 of its 60 years. I bought it from the owner of a technical training school. It was his personal lathe. It was the only lathe left in the cavernous building that housed the technical training school. He had bought it new and was selling it because he was quite old and was retiring and giving up the building--having already given up the technical training school long before. The lamp and the bench are not included, but are available for extra money if you pick up the lathe. I also have many other accessories available, some of which are illustrated on this web page. This lathe is currently set up with a quality cast aluminum housing "dead man's foot switch," but if you prefer, I will give you a reversing switch instead--to match Elgin's original offering. This is the cleanest lathe of this vintage that I have ever seen. The lathe bed in particular is very clean. $2200.
Hardinge Elgin 5c lathe. If you have ever wondered exactly what the relationship between Hardinge and Elgin was, look at the nameplate that was on this lathe. I removed the nameplate and the forward/reverse and low/high plates from this lathe in order to do a proper job of painting it. The old paint on the lathe was removed, bad defects in the castings were filled, Sherwin Williams primer and industrial enamel were applied--but not everywhere--no paint was put where paint does not belong. I won't put the nameplates back on perhaps until I sell it. I do use the lathe. It would be difficult to keep the nameplates in the condition they are in on the lathe. The lathe is on an original bench of the best design that I have seen. The bench end legs are one piece cast steel tied together with a couple of steel T-bars in the rear and with the 2.125" thick maple butcher block top and lower shelf. The butcher block top is held together with through bolts across the width and glued. There is a steel drawer and a wood shelf to hold 56 collets. The collets and contents of the drawer are not included with the lathe. The lathe is in occasional use. The lathe was originally owned by Zenith Radio Corporation. I bought it from a Zenith employee who bought it from Zenith. He had converted it from 3 phase to single phase. Unfortunately, he discarded the electrcal switch boxes and linkage mounted underneath the bench; I am willing to buy a set of those switches with or without linkage. I reinstalled a 3 phase motor on the lathe. It is a Crocker Wheeler size A204, .75HP, 1150rpm, 208V, 2.75A, 3 phase motor. The pulley system is orginal to the lathe. Speed changes are made manually; the motor is mounted on a hinged platform--tilt the motor up to change the belt between pulleys. 2 matched belts drive the spindle securely without slippage. This is the most powerful lathe I have due to the superb drive system. Available speeds are 260, 885, 1150 and 1880rpm. This lathe runs extremely smoothly at all speeds. It runs amazingly smoothly at very high speeds and consequently is a great lathe for achieving very smooth finishes. There is a plunger spindle lock on the lathe backside. The large lever on the front side also serves as a spindle lock. The serial number of the lathe is 59-1752. The lathe is being priced wihout accessories. Accessories are available. You will find some of them on this list. Others are available. Chucks, for instance: I have many chucks. I tend to leave them set up for specific operations that I perform often. Collets: I do have extras. I will be adding a list of extra collets and a list of collets wanted soon. This is about the last of the enclosed belt drive lathes that is still managable by an individual; the lathe may be easily disassembled and moved by one person. The lathe with collet drawbar, cross slide and compound and #1 Morse tailstock with 1/2" Jacobs chuck on the bench with the 3 phase motor and electricals illustrated, $2200.
Motors: I have surplus motors on hand. for instance, I have a 1/2HP 220V 3 phase, 1725/860 dual speed, 3/4" shaft, motor with the same motor mounting holes as the motor on the above lathe. It would work with the above lathe and provide speeds of: 195, 664, 860, 1410rpm in the low speed range and 390, 1328, 1725, 2820rpm in the high speed range. If I find a set of the underneath switches and linkages I may install this motor on the lathe. Actually, many of the lever action reversible motor switches will do the job. And I do have a set of Hardinge linkages from another lathe that will do the job. I have not done the work because I have lots of other priorites given that I am satisfied with the way the lathe works now and someday I may find the exact original parts that will screw into the existing screw holes on the bottom side of the benchtop......so I will leave well enough alone for now. You may have this 2 speed motor in lieu of the one on the above lathe if you wish and I can sell you the switches and linkages. Maybe one day I will get around to listing the surplus motors I have.
2 taper spindle mount arbors for Hardinge grinder attachment. I sold the grinder. I have these 2 spare arbors available for $100 each. These are illustrated below on the right. The taper spindle is about 1.065" long, and tapers from about .324" to .269". If you want to see images of the grinder that these fit click on the image below to see a larger version of it and then substitute numbers 1 through 7 in place of the 8 in the url in the address window and hit enter--or, if you do not understand that, I can send them to you.
Grinder Pulley designed to be mounted on an overhead shaft as seen in the photos of the lathe (on bench) below. The clamp is designed to be clamped around a 1.25" diameter shaft. A split ring adapter sleeve would be easy to make to mount it on a smaller diameter shaft. $125.
Lathe bench with drawers. The lathe itself has been sold. It was uneconomical to ship the bench. Although it has been used for several cataract bench lathes during the time that I have had it, it could serve for virtually any benchtop lathe, or for that matter for just about anything else. It is a fairly ordinary commercial workbench. The metal drawer on the left is about 20X20" inside dimensions, with a sliding tray inside. The wood drawer on the right is about 18X26" inside dimensions and is presently set up to receive Hardinge collets in front and miscellany in the rear. The bench top is 28" deep, 60" long, with metal fence around 3 sides. It is 34" high. There is a full length underneath shelf about 9" off the floor. The legs are metal. The top is about 2" thick maple. $250 picked up as illustrated with both drawers. The wood drawer is one I custom built. I utilized very long and high weight capacity ball bearing slides that cost me over $100. If you leave the drawer with me, the price is $150.
Pulley assembly. Would be useful with a cone head drive lathe such as the cataract bench lathe illustrated above. You will need the cone drive pulley; mount it between the 2 bearing blocks on this assembly. See diagram.
Hardinge Cataract 32" lathe bed. Note the holes in the headstock end; these will allow you to attach any known Hardinge Cataract threading attachment (except for any that requires a rear T-slot). This bed shows a lot of use. $225 postpaid to anywhere in the lower 48 US via ups ground.
Hardinge Cataract lathe bench legs. There were originally longitudinal cross braces on the back side like there are on the ends; you may replicate this with off the shelf hardware. If you want your Hardinge Cataract lathe bench lathe to look original then you will need these. I may put these to use with my 100 year old Cataract Bench Lathe with thread chasing attachment that came in on the South Bend bench illustrated below. $225
Taper spindle toolholders and diamond laps. 20 pieces total. The 2 on the far right hold 1/8" and 3/32" shafts. The 2 next to them stabilize flat disks. The one with a grinding wheel on it has a screw in the end. Most of the others are diamond laps. The shafts taper from about .200" to .150" over a 1" length. $300 for the lot. These came in with a lot of Hardinge equipment, but I do not know what they fit.
Hardinge cataract mounting yoke for use with modern crossslide/compound and older lathes. The one in the foreground is the one I am offering. The one mounted on the lathe is painted to match that lathe. The one in the foreground would need to have the lock nut shortened for use on this particular lathe. The 2nd photo shows one in use. $100
Elgin double crossslide. Rack and pinion transverse and longitudinal movements, each with adjustable stops to control extent of movement. Shown on a Hardinge/Elgin 9" lathe--which it was designed for. The 2 tool holders are at the same height as they are original with this piece of equipment. Newly cleaned, lubed and adjusted. $400.
Elgin double crossslide. Rack and pinion transverse movement,with adjustable stops to control extent of movement. Shown on a Hardinge/Elgin 9" lathe--which it was designed for. One tool holder. This is a direct copy of the Hardinge crossslide. $500. In the last photo you see it being used with a swiveling lever action tool holder, which is not included with this cross slide. All my compounds were aligned for turning/boring/facing operations and I did not want to have to realign them. This worked quite well as you can see; there was zero chattering on the bevel of this 8" diameter part. I cleaned up this crossslide for my use; as you can see, it is cleaner in this last photo.
Hardinge Model D compound and quick action crossslide. This is typically used on a crossslide like the ones listed above. You know how much trouble it is to adjust your usual compound so it is perfectly zeroed. That is why I usually will use a double crossslide like the 2 above with one of these on top of it instead of moving my usual compound off of the zeroed position. The screws on either end are there so that you may add your own stops. $200
Elgin turret for 9" swing lathe. Automatic operation. Throw the lever and advance both the toolholder and the stop at the opposite end to the next position. Although I have not yet cleaned up this item, I have checked its operation; it is working well. Great for production work. Price will go up after I find time to clean it up. $500.
Hardinge spacer blocks, go between Hardinge lathe bed with rear T-slot and thread chasing attachment designed for a T-slot bed that was farther back. These are custom made. You could make your own if you have the skill and the time and the equipment. These may be had for $300
Hardinge rear T-slot thread chasing striker plate. Illustrated out-of-position in order to show the rear T-slot bed and Hardinge name plate. Mild steel with hardened, ground and polished insert. RARE, $150. The Striker plate contact screw is also available, 1/4-26TPI, hardened to just the right amount, RARE, you could make your own, of course, but not for $50.
Hardinge Taper attachment for thread chasing lathe. You may tilt that hardened striker plate in either direction and cut internal or external tapered threads. This is the only one seen by either the octogenarian Hardinge collector or myself. Before I put it on my web page it was fun to ask visiting Hardinge afficionados what it was. None had ever seen one before or even knew that a taper attachment had ever been made for the Hardinge thread chasing lathe. EXTREMELY RARE, $600.
Hardinge thread chasing attachment component, "banjo." Holds the gears between the spindle gear and the rear T-slot mounted shaft. $200.
3c 40 tooth spindle gear for Hardinge thread chasing attachment. Attaches with set screw to spindle. $125. Note: A customer told me that his 3c lathe requires a gear with a 1" inside diameter. This has a .9" inside diameter. It is plenty beefy; it can be bored out. The gears do mesh nicely with Hardinge gears. If you need it, you will find a way to use it.
4c collet closer adapter for Hardinge thread chasing attachment. Key on inside engages slot on spindle rear; slot on outside accepts key on inside of spindle gear. $200.
Rear bar stop for Hardinge thread chasing attachment. $100.
60 tooth gear for Hardinge thread chasing attachment. 1.746" ID. 0.355" thick. $150.
Adapter for Hardinge thread chasing attachment. I made this to allow me to use a Hardinge thread chasing attachment on a bed that had some holes in the tail end for a different thread chasing attachment, but not located in the proper location for my thread chasing attachment. The screw is a Hardinge screw. The screw is 3/8-24TPI. The 1/4" dowel pins are spaced 2" on center. The threaded hole is 1/4-28TPI. The top cutout is the width of the T-slot and allowed me to properly position the headstock. $150.
Hardinge tailstock for the Hardinge/Elgin lathe beds as illustrated on this page. The white plastic dial indicates that it is a late model. That white plastic dial is much easier to read than a metal dial. Morse taper #1. 9" swing. Note that the turning handle that fits into the round handle at the tail end is missing. This needs some cleaning and tuning up, so only $125.
CENTER REST for some lathe similar to Hardinge with a 9" swing. I bought it from someone who advertised it as being a Hardinge center rest. It is not Hardinge. By adding a spacer washer between the center rest and the Hardinge bed, it will work on the Hardinge lathe. The flat surface that rests on the lathe bed is only 2.5" wide. Hardinge requires a 2 9/16" flat. Do you know what lathe this is for? Brass rests. Because the rests are not bound in channels, this could be used for a slightly different height lathe. An excellent feature of this center rest is the quick locking lathe bed bolt. $150
Hand tool rest for 9" Hardinge lathes. T-bolt to hold it to the lathe bed not included. $50
Hardinge 5c 9" faceplate, $200. Faceplates are necessary. The larger the diameter of a workpiece, the closer you need to be to the headstock. In addition to the threaded mounting holes, you may use T-nuts with a faceplate. Here is an example of how simply something may be mounted to a faceplate. Those beveled screw head edges are all that is holding the 8" diameter workpiece on the faceplate for use with the holesaw--a demanding operation. The end result--the threaded hole--is illustrated. The white paper faced foam core spacer is there just to give the threading tool clearance.
Hardinge 5c 7" faceplate, $200
Hardinge 4c 9" faceplate for the taper spindle nose, hard to find in 4c, $100
Hardinge lantern style toolholder with straight holder, left hand holder, boring bar holder with boring toolbit, cutoff toolholder with toolbit. The cutoff tool bit or blade is ground on one end to cut threads. This is what was typically used on the old split bed Hardinge lathes in their day. How do you beet the flexibility of such a toolholder? $220. Note: On my tool web page is a lantern style toolpost that is half the size of this. Perhaps it was made for a 3c or 5/4/3c 7" swing lathe compound. There are also more toolbit holders to fit this toolholder.
Hardinge height adjustable toolholder. Labeled "H H Hardinge, Chicago, patent pending." This Cataract vintage toolholder fits all Hardinge compounds I have from Cataract to HLVH. It has greater height adjustment and greater toolholder capacity than the newer ones below; I even use a cutoff blade in one. The chamfered corners allow you to get closer to your work. This may be the 1st adjustable height toolholder Hardinge made. It is faster and more convenient to adjust the height and lock down the toolbit than the more modern Hardinge toolholders listed below. RARE. $250
Hardinge, Elmira, NY, USA, D9 height adjustable toolholder. This toolholder fits all Hardinge compounds I have from Cataract to HLVH. For use with 3/8" toolbits. I like my toolholders simple and super solid, with height adjustment; this design meets my needs. $200
copy of Hardinge D9 height adjustable toolholder. This toolholder fits all Hardinge compounds I have from Cataract to HLVH. $150
Spacers to extend the range of the above toolholders. These fit the Hardinge D9 height adjustable toolholder or the copies. They are surface ground. They are .200", .165" and .110" thick. They allow you to use smaller tool bits and still be able to bring the bits up to center height or they allow you to use the toolholder on a compound or whatever where you need more height. $30 each or 3 for $75
Hardinge D2 toolholder. This toolholder came in mounted on a Hardinge Model D revolving crossslide--listed just below the double crossslides above on this page. Like the D9, it accepts 3/8" or smaller tool bits. I photograph it next to a D9 toolholder so you may see the relative size and other differences. $80
4-way, 12-position toolholder. Equally spaced detents allow you to turn it 30 degrees between stops. Of course, by unlocking and repositioning the tool, you have unlimited positioning capability. You lock the unit with the top nut. You lock and unlock the rotating feature with the hand lever. This fits all 6 of my Hardinge and Elgin lathe compounds, new and old. It will fit other lathe compounds also. The part that goes into the compound T-slot is 1.12" wide and .19" thick. This can speed up your operations. You may put several toolbits in it and return to the same position at any time. Will accept 3/8" toolbits. Made by Enco Manuyfacturing Co., Chicago. $100.
Hardinge bench center, with 24 position dividing head with 5c collet drawbar, with screwfeed adjustable tailstock, 5 T-nuts. $500. I have 2 of the dividing heads. The cleaner one is illustrated on the bench. In the 2nd photo you see the bottom of the cleaner on on the left. Those round keys are ones I made for use on my Clausing milling machine. They are not included. The original keys looked like those on the bench tailstock on the right. The dividing head in the center is not as clean as the one included with the lathe; it was used on a grinder and the grinder marks are visible. It works fine and if you choose to buy the bench with it instead of the cleaner one, the price of the bench is $400.
5C UNUSUAL ADAPTER. Fits into Hardinge 5c head stock like a collet and is drawn tight with the collet drawbar. Useful for adapting any number of items to a 5c head stock. Inside diameter is 1.25" with an inside depth of 2" with a set screw. Made of steel with a high tech finish. Very high quality. NEW. $125.
4" 6 JAW 5C COLLET SHANK CHUCK. Without chuck key. I disassembled it, cleaned, lubed and adjusted it. I found it to be well made of a quality steel with no broken parts. It runs true. The minimum size inside diameter hole the jaws will grab is 1.29". The maximum size inside diameter hole the jaws will grab is 3.72". The maximum outside diameter the jaws will grab is 1.48". The hole through the chuck is 1" diameter. Of course, this will fit virtually any 5C lathe--regardless of your spindle nose. $450.
6" INDEPENDENT 4-JAW KITAGAWA CHUCK. With reversible jaws. Without chuck key. With Hardinge pin lock taper mount HLVH 5c lathe backing plate mounted and ready to use, $550.
5" 4-JAW WHITON CHUCK for HARDINGE. Made by Whiton Machine Co., New London, CT, USA. Fits well on the 5c taper spindle nose. Well made. It is very similar to the Hardinge chuck design made by Burnerd. Clean condition except for the threads on #2 screw--which are damaged at the outside end of the screw. These damaged threads do affect the performance; you cannot use the chuck to hold larger diameter items with surety. $50.
