Fixed and travelling steadies

An unusual design of fixed stay or to use the modern term "steady" is shown here bolted to the lathe bed and being aligned with the lathe centre by adjusting the two lower bolts. This unusual design is used for supporting long lengths of wire or round bar in order to drill or machine the ends. The barrel of the tailstock is a perfect fit in the largest aperture of 25mm or 1 inch. This can be used to align the accessory with the lathe centre height. Once set then rotating the plate will always align dead centre for each aperture. The B2 was also provided with a similar type of fixed steady see Here

Shown here testing for dead centre alignment, the barrel of the tailstock is an exact fit right through the largest aperture. I'm still not sure of the reason for the dished area around each aperture.

The C3's fixed steady used for when machining bars and wire of different gauges.

Pittler C3 Travelling steady

Left: A travelling steady which bolts onto the round saddle to support thin or flexible pieces of work close to the cutter.

Right: a type of C3 fixed steady of the type more commonly seen on many different makes of lathe, this can permit larger sizes of round bar than the one above which has a maximum of one inch or 25mm bar

Pittler C3 Fixed steady of the more common design provided for many makes of lathe worldwide, the top swivels over to insert workpiece.