Wadkin RS Lathes

[schnapps95]

Hello, I have a couple of questions regarding Wadkin RS Lathes if anyone could help.

After machine No1625 Wadkin changed the bearings from Imperial to Metric ,does anybody own this machine or one with a number close to it so we can then identify the year this occurred.

I also believe that Wadkin did not produce their own castings but used bought in items, can anybody confirm this and if so the name of the foundry that made them.

I am trying to build up a database of the RS lathe with as much information as possible (such as the last year of production) any information whatsoever would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Vann]

...After machine No1625 Wadkin changed the bearings from Imperial to Metric ,does anybody own this machine or one with a number close to it so we can then identify the year this occurred...

RS 1624, test 52304, was tested in 1955. It stayed in Britain.
RS 1630, test 52624, also tested in 1955, was exported to the States. It's an 8" RS.

...I am trying to build up a database of the RS lathe with as much information as possible (such as the last year of production) any information whatsoever would be appreciated...

RS 2578, test 82433 - which would make it late 1972 - is the latest one I've been able to find (so far).

...I also believe that Wadkin did not produce their own castings but used bought in items, can anybody confirm this and if so the name of the foundry that made them...

I've always though that the Green Lane works in Leicester had their own foundry, but I have no evidence of that. They did have their own pattern shop.

Whether the former Bursgreen factories outsourced their castings I don't know, but a current thread on this site, on the restoration of a Wadkin-Bursgreen BSG-10 (table saw) shows some very intricate castings - which makes me wonder if they were outsourced to a specialist foundry. Wadkin BGS10…The rarest table saw Wadkin made. Full Restoration

Cheers, Vann.

 

[Vann]

Some tag pikkies - to back up my previous post.

Cheers, Vann.

 

[TFrench]

I'll get the tag number from mine later. None of the wadkin books I've seen mention having their own foundry - and as they bragged about everything else they had I'm sure they would have mentioned it! Green lane works was a machining and assembly shop as far as I know. As leicester had so many machine tool manufacturers - you could walk to adcock shipley (bridgeports and their own milling machines) and pollards (pillar drills) in a couple of minutes from green lane I'm sure they all contracted it out to some of the big foundries in the area. I've heard my dad mention the name of the foundry but I can't remember it right now!

 

[Vann]

I'll get the tag number from mine later...

That would be appreciated. A tag photo would be great.

...None of the wadkin books I've seen mention having their own foundry - and as they bragged about everything else they had I'm sure they would have mentioned it!...

You're probably right. It is surprising they don't show any photos of foundry or fettling work. Their pattern shop doubled as a display for their machines - and may well have been for the purpose of mocking up machine parts for development purposes (not to support a foundry).

Cheers, Vann.

 

[clogs]

OK Vann
took a bit of digging as it's in storage.....
know nothing about it really bought unseen from ebay UK...shipped it here a year ago.....waiting for the new barn to be built.....
almost complete apart from the Elephants foot.....but I'll cobble something up for that....have a single cylinder diesel Lister block to make the foot....hahaha.....
it has a new 3 phase motor and a new thingy to run it from a single phase suppy, 240v.....
quite early I think from the model number....
can u tell me what year it is.....ta...
I like the idea of someone collecting the history of these machines....
will make good reading.....

 

[Inspector]

clogs I recently learned that VFDs should be powered up a few times a year to keep the capacitors happy. If not they need to be repowered in a special way. Basically applying DC power in stages. It is called reforming. The manual for it should explain how.

Have fun with the big toy when you get it running again.

Pete

 

[schnapps95]

I'll get the tag number from mine later. None of the wadkin books I've seen mention having their own foundry - and as they bragged about everything else they had I'm sure they would have mentioned it! Green lane works was a machining and assembly shop as far as I know. As leicester had so many machine tool manufacturers - you could walk to adcock shipley (bridgeports and their own milling machines) and pollards (pillar drills) in a couple of minutes from green lane I'm sure they all contracted it out to some of the big foundries in the area. I've heard my dad mention the name of the foundry but I can't remember it right now!

Hi T.French
Many thanks for the reply which comfirms my thinking if you remember the foundry's name it would be much appreciated if you post please.
Regards Stan

 

[clogs]

thanks Inspector, u have cheeredme up......hahaha.....
another thing on the todo list.....
will have to look it up.....

 

[ScottandSargeant]

Hello, I have a couple of questions regarding Wadkin RS Lathes if anyone could help.

After machine No1625 Wadkin changed the bearings from Imperial to Metric ,does anybody own this machine or one with a number close to it so we can then identify the year this occurred.

I also believe that Wadkin did not produce their own castings but used bought in items, can anybody confirm this and if so the name of the foundry that made them.

I am trying to build up a database of the RS lathe with as much information as possible (such as the last year of production) any information whatsoever would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

if you let me have the Wadkin test number I will tell you the year. I have a book

 

[schnapps95]

if you let me have the Wadkin test number I will tell you the year. I have a book

thanks for the reply i have been informed it is 1955

 

[Vann]

...quite early I think from the model number....
can u tell me what year it is.....ta...

Hi Clogs. Thanks for the tag photo. Test 21266 was carried out in 1943 I believe.

Cheers, Vann.

 

[Vann]

if you let me have the Wadkin test number I will tell you the year. I have a book.

Hi. Not an RS, but an RM - RM 446, test 9008. Thanks in anticipation.

Cheers, Vann.

 

[clogs]

Thanks Vann
that make it a little older than me......hahaha.....
Not often u can say that about machinery.....
Can't wait to get it working again....
will make a vid when I get that far.....
plan to make huge platters from grubbed out Olive trees with it....