Rare Accessories

Pittler produced many variations of accessories, some are well known but others are perhaps quite rare and produced in limited numbers. I have obtained some different Pittler catalogue images to the ones usually seen and they show some quite interesting attachments such as a chain driven cutting frame and an amazing double capstan head with both length and cross feed.

Below: On the left is a strange mechanism fitted at the rear of the tray casting. It appears to be an unusual design of a copying device that seemingly follows a profile slot cut in to the top or side of the attachment, it swivels and tilts the shank of the cross-slide producing a small row of balls on the workpiece as it moves along a very limited length. The copy device that became standard on the C3 was worked from the front of the lathe, I have the two rings that are part of this equipment See Here for details of how it worked

The actual lathe itself shows to be a short bed model C at just 375mm centres but quite unlike later versions of the C lathes. The other catalogue photo shows a huge attachment powered by a universal joint in a similar way to the C3 lathes. The translation of the text shows it to be a device for the automatic dividing and milling of helical and spur gears.

A model C lathe fitted with an attachment at the back of the tray for profile copying

A model C lathe fitted with an automatic mechanism to divide and cut helical and spur gears, it is powered via the universal joint

Below are two gear or worm cutting frames including an unusual chain driven one for the C3 & D2 lathes which bolts directly onto the tool block rather than the other one which replaces the saddle casting. A powered T- slot table working in the same way as power cross feed on the C3, a quick return handle is included. A huge double capstan head with both length and cross feed for C & D lathes. This can be fitted without dismantling the tailstock and the standard saddle casting can be slid off and placed under the chuck or by the tailstock. All these items are extremely heavy as discovered when lifting my C3 compound slide. Pittler also patented and produced the worlds first vertical Capstan lathes which won many industry awards for their unique design and continued in production long after von Pittler had left the company and B & C lathes were no longer produced

An unusual chain driven cutting frame

Single and double Capstan heads, quick withdrawing slide rest and compound slide with split saddle casting

A T- slotted table with power feed via the univeral jointl

A superb double capstan head with both length and cross feed, for the C lathe, I would like one of these although the catalogue says it weighs 60 kilo!

A drum type cutting frame for the C3 lathe, it weighs 40 kilo!

A Drilling spindle for B, C, & D lathes