Lathe, not for the purist

[BarnBrian]

Some years ago, a friend in Australia had a wood lathe set up that I believe came from the US. Instead of using a tool rest it had a tool holder that was like a pistol grip that rested on the base plate. The cutting tool was V shaped and there was a sharpening disc on the back of the headstock. Using it for copying was a matter of making a plywood template to lay on the baseplate and move the cutting tool holder along the base plate following the outline of the template.
I've tried searching the net but never found any info on this machine. Has anyone come across these or know who made them?

Brian

 

[RogerP]

Something like this?

http://www.woodfast.com.au/index.php?p=1_11

 

[BarnBrian]

Hi Roger
That is the concept but the one my friend had was not an added piece of tooling, it was a purpose built lathe.

Brian

 

[Retire2004]

Hi Brian,
Could it be a Rojex SH 1 MA? Just Google it!
Tudor

 

[BarnBrian]

Not that one I'm afraid. It had a fairly deep flat bed that the tool holder sat flat onto. It also had a flat bed at the end of the headstock to rest the toolholder on for sharpening.