The B2 ball turner

Although the ball turner mechanism was included with some versions of the Pittler C3 lathe it was always an additional cost for the B2. Many Pittler owners seek to find this almost legendary attachment and I had not seen the B2 mechanism before. I was therefore very interested indeed when recently provided with photo's by Pittler owner Derick Zwanepoel  who lives in South Africa. 

 It works  quite differently to the C3 lathe by running the universal joint directly off the screw cutting spindle fitted into the gearbox banjo, then  it runs across to a special saddle casting.

Below left shows how the attachment clamps onto the bottom of the banjo with the end of the screw cutting spindle locked on to the rotating bevel gear assembly.   The mechanism cost £7 and required a special saddle casting in order to fit on the attachment. It is mentioned in the catalogue that if you ordered this mechanism then an allowance of 10 shillings discount was offered if you returned the original saddle ring.

 A  spur wheel would be fitted on the bottom of the cross-slide shaft, much the same as on the C3.  A small thumbscrew presumably adjusts the worm pressure against the spur gear.

The owner is currently restoring the mechanism and new photo's of the complete ball turning mechanism with it's universal joint will be added shortly.