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From the peculiar kind of cut required to turn hollow ware, no self-acting lathe has heretofore been successfully used for this kin of turning. It is commonly performed in a common lathe with a hand tool, and is very laborious, especially in turning ware of an oval form, where tne hand of the workman must accommodate itself to the deviations o the surface, and be subjected to a constan jerking motion. The turning of hollow ware differs from most other kinds of turning, as the principle object to be attained is a clear brigh surface; the ware is always made thin to save the weight of metal, and the portion turned offshould be taken from all sides equally, even though the interior surface should be an irregular curve, the object being to remove the crust on the surface of the casting, so as to prepare it for the process of tinning. The improvements made in these lathes are the invention of Peter Teal and Charles Tyler, of Philadelphi , Pa. The important features of their invention are in the manner of holding and operating the cutting tool, and in the chuck which secures the ware in the lathe. The cutter is self-feeding and self-adjusting, and is held in its place by an arm from a slide frame, upon the lathe. It is made yielding to accommodate itself to the inequalities of the surface of the ware by means of a coiled spring upon the frame, the depth of the cut being regulated by a guide roller lol-loiving th" cutter. The ware to be turned is held in a chuck of a peculiar construction. It is so arranged that the ware may be moved first with a circular motion for the purpose of turning the centre and bottom of the ware, and then gradually taking an oval or elliptical motion as the cutter proceeds toward the edge or top of the article to be turned. The motion may be kept circular when the ware is circular, and in both instances is self adjusting, no attention by the workman being requisite but to set the lathe tor the kind of turning required. Many parts of this lathe are too complex to describe without the aid oi engravings, consequently we can here give but a limited idea of the invention, and its operation. Further information may be obtained of the assignees of the inventor, W. P: Cresson Co., Philadelphia, Pa.
