One of those "alleged" Reeves drives like the Delta 46-701 or clone? They require continuous care. The old iron with the real Reeves are almost student-proof. Look for some old iron if you are willing to live with 12" over the bed. For 300 or sometimes less, you can get a 46-2XX type, sometimes even a 46-5XX. Another common vintage lathe is Powermatic, with virtual clones of the Delta. Pictures of what's in the shopper can be found at vintagemachinery.org to give you a better idea.
If you want new, look at the "midi" lathes - 12" swing. They come with DC motors if you think infinitely variable rpm is worth it, but at a higher price. Best mechanical lathe out there is probably the offspring of my Nova 3000, the 16-24 (or more). They start over a grand, even on sale.
|