Book list

BOOK LIST

The definitive work on O.T. is "Turning and Mechanical Manipulation" by Charles & John Jacob Holtzapffel (5 vols. 1843 - 1897). Volume 5, entitled "The Principles and Practice of Ornamental or Complex Turning" ( Reprint ISBN 0-486-26567-6) is considered to be the 'bible' of O.T. but there is much related information in the other volumes. (V1-V3 ISBN 1-85761-031-8 &ff; V4 ISBN 0-486-26567-9)

There is also a wealth of information about ornamental turning on the Compact Disc of past Bulletins of the Society of Ornamental Turners and other Society publications (see below.

The other most useful books are:-

J H Evans   "Ornamental Turning"       1886 (Reprint 1993 ISBN 1-879335-35-2)

J Lukin           "The Lathe & Its Uses"   1868 (Reprint ISBN 1-879335-49-2)

T D Walshaw  "Ornamental Turning"   1990 (Reprint 1994 ISBN 1-85486-108-5)

Edwards, John F.	Holtzapffel Volume VI  (a compendium of rare or previously unpublished material related to ornamental turning)	2013

Bergeron's  Manuel du Tourneur 1792 translated into English by Jeremy Soulsby    2010

A comprehensive bibliography (now slightly out-of-date) is contained in:-

Abell,Leggat & Ogden   "A Bibliography of the Art of Turning & Lathe & Machine Tool History"

Also of particular interest to experienced ornamental turners are:-

Alabone E W.   Multi-Epicycloidal and other Geometric Curves                n.d.

Amateur Mechanical Society   The Quarterly Journal of the            1871-1887

American Machinist magazine

Ash, J      Double Counting on the Lathe, The Art of                      1857

Bazley, T S    Epicycloidal Cutting Frame, Notes on the                 1872

Bazley, T S    Geometric Chuck, Index to the                                1875

Bergeron, P Hamelin   Manuel du Tourneur                                    1792

Brown, E E & C  Polychromatic Assembly for Wood Turning        1973

Chaplin C H     Ornamental Lathework for Amateurs                   c.1914

Danilevskii, V. V.    English translation of AK Nartov'sTheatrum Machinarum  1964

Diderot, D    Encyclopedie des Arts et des Metiers (Vol X. L'Art du Tourneur)    1772

Edwards, John F.	John Evans & Sons, Lathe Makers		2001

Edwards, John F.	Holtzapffel Volume VI  (a compendium of rare or previously

		unpublished material related to ornamental turning)	2013

Edwards, R            Micro-computer Art                                        1985

Elphinstone, H W      Patterns for Turning                                      1872

Engineering magazine                                                                     1886-1953

Engleheart, N B   Eccentric Turning, a Concise Treatise on             1852

English Mechanic & World of Science magazine                            1865-1956

Evans, J H         Ornamental Turning                                              1886

Ferraglio, P L.    English translation of Plumier's L'Art de Tourner    1975

Gilbert, K.R.     Early Machine Tools (Science Museum)                1975

Grace, G A       Art and Craft of Ornamental Turning, The              1961

Grace, G A            Ornamental Turning Design                              1923

Holtzapffel & Co.     Catalogue                                                    n.d.

Holtzapffel, C. & J. J.  Turning & Mechanical Manipulation (5 vols)  1843-1894

Ibbetson, J H     Eccentric Circular Turning, Specimens in              1817

Ibbetson, J H     Geometric Chuck, A Brief Account of Ibbetson's    1833

Knox, F M             Ornamental Turnery                                      1986

Lukin, J              Lathe & Its Uses, The                                         1868

Lukin, J              Turning Lathes                                                     1888

Lukin, J              Turning for Amateurs                            	     1873

Lukin, J              Possibilities of Small Lathes                                 1905

Maurice, K            Sovereigns as Turners                                      1985

Mechanics magazine                                                                      1823-1872

Model Engineer magazine                                                               1923-date

Moxon, J              Mechanick Exercises                                        1703

Northcott, W H        Lathes and Turning, A Treatise on                 1868

Ogden, W G            Pedigree of Holtzapffel Lathes, The                1986

Oliver-Gascoigne, M I Handbook of Turning, The                         1842

Pinto, E H    Treen, or Small Woodware throughout the Ages        1969

Plumier, C            L'Art de Tourner                                               1701

Rich, C H      Specimens of the Art of Ornamental Turning             1819

Robinson, H. C    Eccentric Spiral Turning, An introduction to        1906

Savory, H S       Geometric turning                                 	     1873

Tweddle, N    Rose Engine Lathe, its History, Development and Modern Use, The    1954

Walshaw, T D          Ornamental Turning                                       1981

Woodbury, R S         History of the Lathe to 1850                         1961

THE BULLETIN OF THE SOCIETY OF ORNAMENTAL TURNERS ON COMPACT DISC

Since its formation in 1948, the Society of Ornamental Turners has recorded its accumulated knowledge in half-yearly bulletins. This body of information is, perhaps, second only to the works of the Holtzapffels in its value to ornamental turning enthusiasts.

These bulletins include articles on many aspects of the craft, including description of OT techniques, the adaptation of modern machinery, inventions of new apparatus, instructions for making special accessories for the lathe, hundreds of inspirational pictures of ornamentally turned objects and a wide variety of uncommon information on all matters pertaining to OT.

Bulletins numbered 1 – 98 have been scanned onto a Compact Disc which is available to be purchased from the Society; for further details go to www.the-sot.com .

In addition the disc contains copies of three other rare and important treatises on ornamental turning:

- The Rose Engine Lathe, by Norman Tweddle

- Bibliography on the Art of Turning and Lathe & Machine Tool History, by Abell, Leggatt and Ogden

- The Art and Craft of Ornamental Turning, by Rev. G. A. Grace

Publications by John F. Edwards

(1) - 'Holtzapffel Volume VI' - a compendium of rare or previously unpublished material related to Ornamental Turning - which presents to the reader an unique opportunity to access this extensive library of knowledge hitherto not generally available.

	The printed hardback edition (published in 2013 - ISBN 978-0-9576594-0-7) is available from the author, price £35.00 plus postage.  This is a large book (12" x 8.5" x 2" thick, and weighing almost 4 kilograms) with 866 printed pages on good quality paper.  A Compact Disc Edition is available at £25.00 plus postage or just £5.00 if bought with the printed book.  The CD can be useful to those readers who wish to print off a few pages for reference in the workshop without the risk of damaging or soiling the book.

	Orders are invited by email to ornamental.turning[at]talktalk.net - using the symbol @ in place of [at].  Please supply your postal address and contact telephone number.  Do not make payment until you have received details of available payment methods and confirmation of the current cost of packing and postage to your address.

	THE BOOK COMPRISES:    Preface,  Contents,  Part 1 - Rose Engine Turning,  Part 2 - The Geometric Chuck,  Part 3 - Ornamental Turning Accessories,  Part 4 - Engineering Apparatus, Miscellaneous Notes, Sundry Tables and Index.

	Each Part is divided into Chapters, the titles of which are listed below.  Click on the links indicated below to open a .pdf file containing a brief introduction to each Chapter within its Part.

INTRODUCTION & CONTENTS

Part 1. ROSE ENGINE TURNING (click here for Chapter introductions)

Chapter 1. Waved Line Patterns on Surfaces....................................................................................... 10 pages

2. Budd’s Rose Chuck & Pumping Apparatus ...................................................................... 36 pages

3. The Straight Line Chuck & the Pillar Fluting Chuck......................................................... 8 pages

4. The Rosette Forming Machine.................................................................................................. 8 pages

5. Bowers’ Rose Engine Conversion .......................................................................................... 12 pages

6. Chaplin’s Rocking Slide-rest ...................................................................................................... 8 pages

7. Pudsey-Dawson’s Geometric Slide-rest ................................................................................ 16 pages

8. Grace’s Geometric Slide-rest ...................................................................................................... 8 pages

9. Birch’s Rose Engine Attachment .............................................................................................. 20 pages

10. Robinson’s Harmonic Lathe [with additional photographs] .............................................. 4 pages

11. The Rose Cutting Frame (and mini High Speed Cutter) ................................................. 24 pages

12. Childs’ Universal Rosette .......................................................................................................... 8 pages

13. Massa ’s Universal Lathe .............................................. ........................................................... 6 pages

14. Beddow’s Apparatus ................................................................................................................. 10 pages

15. The Kinograph, the Cycloidotrope & other machines ...................................................... 12 pages

16. Mechanism for Transposing the Rosette Profile.................................................................. 2 pages

17. Holtzapffel & Co’s Journal - Extract ..................................................................................... 4 pages

Back to Top

Part 2. THE GEOMETRIC CHUCK (click here for Chapter introductions)

Chapter 1. Ibbetson’s Geometric Chuck ................................................................................................. 52 pages

2. Plant’s Geometric Chuck ........................................................................................................... 36 pages

3. Perigal’s Papers ........................................................................................................................... 32 pages

4. Alabone’s Geometric Patterns ................................................................................................. 16 pages

5. Miscellaneous Geometric Chuck papers ................................................................................32 pages

6. The Epicycloidal Cutting Frame .............................................................................................. 38 pages

Part 3. ORNAMENTAL TURNING ACCESSORIES (click here)

Chapter 1. Bazley's Oblique Chuck.......................................................................................................... 20 pages

2. Special Dome Chucks ................................................................................................................... 8 pages

3. Ibbetson’s Double Eccentric Chuck ......................................................................................... 4 pages

4. Counting and Driving Mechanisms ..................................................................................... 48 pages

5. Lindsay-Forster’s Free Curve Attachment ............................................................................. 8 pages

6. The Spiral Spherical Slide-rest ................................................................................................. 14 pages

7. Robinson’s Eccentric Spiral Turning Apparatus.................................................................. 6 pages

8. Reciprocator Developments ...................................................................................................... 10 pages

9. Rodgers’ Undulator .................................................................................................................... 10 pages

10. Bergeron’s Portrait Lathe .......................................................................................................... 2 pages

11. Lowe’s & McNab’s Medallion Machines ........................................................................... 20 pages

12. Llewellyn-Howell’s Universal Slide-rest ............................................................................. 8 pages

13. Rockenhauser’s Ellipse Chuck............................................................................................... 14 pages

Back to Top

Part 4. ENGINEERING APPARATUS, MISCELLANEOUS NOTES & TABLES (click here)

Chapter 1. Engineering Apparatus........................................................................................................ 28 pages

2. Elementary Ornamental Turning by Goldsworthy Crump............................................ 60 pages

3. Notes from an Amateur Turner (H.E.D.).............................................................................. 22 pages

4. Beautiful & Useful Objects from the Lathe by G.A.Grace................................................ 28 pages

5. Some Curiosities of Turning by W. Bagley.......................................................................... 10 pages

6. The Kennan Slide-rest............................................................................................................... 10 pages

7. The Photo-Ratiograph................................................................................................................. 6 pages

8. Joplin ’s Cranks............................................................................................................................. 9 pages

9. The Mechanical Carving Machine.......................................................................................... 1 page

10. Ellison’s Notes...........................................................................................................................34 pages

11. Bazley’s Notes..............................................................................................................................4 pages.

12. Catalogue of Holtzapffel’s Closing Down Sale ..................................................................6 pages

13. Leslie Paton’s Engine Turning Notes................................................................................ 12 pages

14. Caillard’s Interlaced Spheres.............................................................................................. 15 pages

15. The Oval-line Apparatus....................................................................................................... 3 pages

16. William Gaddum’s Patterns ............................................................................................... 12 pages

Appendix - TABLES......................................................................................................................... 32 pages

Rosette Phasing Table…………………………………

Settings for Ibbetson’s Geometric Chuck……….

Retarding Trains for Ibbetson’s Geometric Chuck..

Settings for Plant’s Geometric Chuck……………

Plant’s Screw Cutting & Spiral Turning Table……

Settings for the Elliptical Cutting Frame…………

Epicycloidal Cutting Frame Compensation………

Holtzapffel’s Table for Spiral Spherical Turning......

Evans Description of the Spiral Apparatus………

Evans Tables for Screw Cutting & Spiral Turning ..

Table for Originating Holtzapffel Screw Threads…

Bazley’s Table for the Division Plate…………….

Table for Bead Drills…………………………...

(total production 866 pages)

(2) - 'Ornamental Turning Catalogue' - a pictorial catalogue of Ornamental Turning Lathes and Accessories. This book is based on the engraved figures from 'Turning and Mechanical Manipulation' by John Jacob and Charles Holtzapffel, 'Ornamental Turning' by J. H.. Evans and the works of other makers. These are supplemented by photographs from the author's collection, the collections of other ornamental turners and also those of museums. Many types of lathes and accessories were not listed in previous books or catalogues and the author has attempted to include as many of these as could be found.

THIS BOOK IS CURRENTLY AT THE PLANNING STAGE

(3) - 'Ornamental Turner's Notebook' - a book of hints, tips, projects & techniques for Ornamental Turners. This book is an accumulation of material gathered or devised by the author over some 30 years experience as an amateur ornamental turner together with instructions for the use of a wide range of conventional ornamental turning apparatus, with guidance notes on projects and the techniques used to achieve them.

THIS BOOK IS CURRENTLY AT THE PLANNING STAGE

(4) - 'John Evans & Sons, Lathe Makers' - originally published in 2001, this book traces the history of the Evans family and gives descriptions of the lathes and accessories made by them. A revised edition, published in 2002, includes documentation concerning the bankruptcy of the firm in 1913.

	A NEW EDITION IS PLANNED to include a more comprehensive range of extracts from articles written by J. H. Evans for English Mechanic magazine, giving detailed instructions on HOW TO MAKE  ornamental turning apparatus.

Last modified: January 16, 2015