Lorch, Schmidt and Company 6mm Watchmaker's Lathe Outfit
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
early to mid 20th century
This German steel and brass 6mm watchmaker's lathe outfit was produced by Lorch, Schmidt and Company of Frankfurt during the early to mid-20th century. The set features two lathe bed sections, including a headstock fitted with graduated pulleys driving a spindle with a 3-inch brass mandrel faceplate on an 11.5-inch D-section bed, alongside a second headstock setup on a 9.75-inch bed with a slider, tool rest, and tailstock.
Accompanied by twenty-three 6mm split collets, a three-jaw chuck, a five-jaw radius chuck, and turning accessories, most components are stamped Lorch and housed in a fitted teak wooden box. The lot also includes external accessories such as a cross-slide and mounting pulleys.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Technical characteristics
- Type
- Watchmaker's lathe outfit
- Place recorded
- Germany
- Case Dimensions
- 39cm wide, 25cm deep, 15cm high
- Maker and Origin
- Lorch, Schmidt and Company, Frankfurt
- Maker / attribution
- Lorch, Schmidt and Company
- Accessories Included
- 23 split collets, three-jaw chuck, and five-jaw radius chuck
- Lathe Bed Configurations
- 11.5 inch D-section bed and 9.75 inch bed
Design
- Visible features
- • Fitted wooden teak case with brass latches and a small brass 'Lorch' plaque on the rim. • Internal tiered wooden racks holding rows of collets, chucks, and turning attachments. • Separate compound cross-slide slider with twin adjustment screws. • Independent bench-mount drive pulley assembly and several vintage paper trade catalogues.
- Identity and Presentation
- The lathe components are primarily stamped 'Lorch' and are housed within a fitted teak box with a panelled lid. The box dimensions are 39cm wide, 25cm deep, and 15cm high. The set is attributed to Lorch, Schmidt and Company of Frankfurt, dating to the early to mid-20th century. Based on the included catalogue D No. 19, the auctioneer suggests the set conforms to a 'Lathe Combination IXb'.
- Accessories and Documentation
- The lot contains twenty-three 6mm split collets, a 2.5-inch three-jaw chuck, and a five-jaw radius chuck. Further accessories for turning and polishing are included. Accompanying documentation includes four original Lorch trade catalogues and an illustrated supply list from Prout & Orr Limited of Hull.
- Lathe Components and Configuration
- This watchmaker's lathe outfit consists of two bed sections. The first is an 11.5-inch D-section bed featuring a U-shaped headstock frame with graduated pulleys and a spindle fitted with a 3-inch brass mandrel faceplate incorporating three steel dogs. The second section features a 9.75-inch bed with a headstock incorporating index pin holes to the pulley rim, along with a tool rest and tailstock. The outfit includes a separate slider providing X/Y positioning and a bench-mount drive pulley assembly.
Identification
- Source note
- Facts transcribed from the linked source listing or collection record. Attribution and specifications are source-reported and have not been independently authenticated.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: Catalogue conformity to Combination IXb is based on auctioneer visual assessment of historical trade catalogues.
- Research required: Completeness of original collet set relative to factory specification cannot be verified.