Bronze or Phospor Bronze Lathe Centre ? ID Help Needed

[rustyric]

This is a recent car boot sale purchase. I believe it's lathe centre of some sort and I think its made of bronze or phospor bronze. I can't find any manufactures name on it anywhere. Is it a lathe centre and if so for what machine ?

[lptools]

looks like part of a ratchet drill. I am at work, but have a couple home. I will look later, Lou

[toolman]

Hello: I really do not think it is a lathe dead center. I worked as both an auto machinist, and job shop machinist in my younger days, and all centers, be they live or dead, were made from tool steel. Now, the other thing that stands out, is no morse taper, to fit a lathe tail stock. If it was a dead center that was chucked up, why this acme thread looking part, and or spring looking piece toward the end? I wish i knew what you have here, but come up empty, especially when you mention the soft material it is made from. Not much help to you, but Good Luck!

[bill300d]

Im thinking it might be a valve stem from an old faucet or valve.

[lptools]

Hello, Bill. You may be on to something. Rustyric; Are the threads left or right hand? Regards, Lou

[leg17]

Hello, Bill. You may be on to something. Rustyric; Are the threads left or right hand? Regards, Lou

Picture shows right hand.
Valve stem seems likely.

[gibsontool]

 Maybe I'm seeing things wrong but if it is a valve stem ,which it does look like, when you turn the handle clockwise that would lift the stem up away from the seat which is backwards to the way a normal valve works?????

[kwoswalt99]

Maybe I'm seeing things wrong but if it is a valve stem ,which it does look like, when you turn the handle clockwise that would lift the stem up away from the seat which is backwards to the way a normal valve works?????

No, turning it CW would close it.

[Plyerman]

I'm liking the valve stem suggestion also. And bronze would be the correct material for such an application.

[lptools]

Aren't hot & cold opposite threads? Old style tub faucet with 2 handles? Both turn downward toward the center of the tub to stop the waterflow, so one is turning clockwise, while the other is turning counter-clockwise?

[kwoswalt99]

Aren't hot & cold opposite threads? Old style tub faucet with 2 handles? Both turn downward toward the center of the tub to stop the wate rflow, so one is turning clockwise, while the other is turning counter-clockwise?

Yes.

[leg17]

Aren't hot & cold opposite threads? Old style tub faucet with 2 handles? Both turn downward toward the center of the tub to stop the wate rflow, so one is turning clockwise, while the other is turning counter-clockwise?

There are tons of valves other than household faucets.

[rustyric]

Wow a valve ! For a tap (as i would call it here in the uk) I never thought of that.

[EVILDR235]

A tap in the U.S. would have cold beer coming out of it.

XXXXXX

[rustyric]

A tap in the U.K. will have delicious room temperature ale coming from it, (you have to practice liking it), I'm still trying after 40 years of "practice"