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+--- Thread: gearbox front plate (/showthread.php?tid=4157)
gearbox front plate - Robert Leigh - 07-04-2020
A friend has a bronze front plate for a 3-speed gearbox showing part no XL182. Can anyone throw any light on its original application, please?
Robert Leigh
RE: gearbox front plate - Ian Williams - 07-04-2020
Curious, we have seen other early XL numbered parts cast from Bronze, no one seems to quite know why, it is hard to see in your picture but has this one got a circlip groove? Makes me wonder if it was pre production with an alternative release bearing?
RE: gearbox front plate - Chris KC - 07-04-2020
https://www.a7c.co.uk/downloads/PrmHd_XL_Nos.pdf
Well it's listed....sorry not sure if that gets you anywhere!
RE: gearbox front plate - bob46320 - 07-04-2020
Was it from the marine version. Austin THETIS ??
http://www.austinmemories.com/styled-91/index.html
RE: gearbox front plate - Robert Leigh - 09-04-2020
Yes, there is a circlip groove.
RE: gearbox front plate - Tony Griffiths - 09-04-2020
I've no idea why, mechanically, the item should be in bronze but it is not uncommon to find on machine tools of all kinds - from expensive and complex to cheap and cheerful ones for the amateur - items that could have been in steel or cast iron made instead from bronze. Classic ornamental turning lathes such as the Goyen and Muckle often used bronze fittings (http://www.lathes.co.uk/goyen/page2.html and http://www.lathes.co.uk/muckle ) the 1920s Bolein watchmaker's lathe was made almost entirely of the material ( http://www.lathes.co.uk/bolein ) as were the changewheels on the ingenious EXE 2.5-inch lathe ( http://www.lathes.co.uk/exe/page2.html ). This use continued into the 1940s and 1950s with the CLH watch lathe (http://www.lathes.co.uk/clh/index.html ) the crazily complex Mk.2 Cromwell lathe made extensive use of the material ( http://www.lathes.co.uk/cromwell/page3.html ) and even some of the little Haighton cadet lathes ( http://www.lathes.co.uk/haighton/index.html ) had their feed-screw handwheels and end plates made from bronze castings. Finally, guiding the lily (and without regard to cost) bronze was used for both the control lever assembly and gears that operated the Dewhurst reversing switch on the superb Smart and Brown Sabel ( http://www.lathes.co.uk/sabel ).
RE: gearbox front plate - Robert Leigh - 09-04-2020
...and its available spare if anyone wants it.
RE: gearbox front plate - Mark R - 10-04-2020
Just leading through some old grey mags 2017D22 may have the answer, I'd upload a photo if I could work it out. It appears that it is likely from a very early gearbox.