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A rare John Bower ornamental turning lathe, circa 1840, image 1
A rare John Bower ornamental turning lathe, circa 1840, image 2
A rare John Bower ornamental turning lathe, circa 1840, image 3
Lot 30

A rare John Bower ornamental turning lathe,
circa 1840,

18 May 2016, 13:00 BST
London, Knightsbridge

£8,000 - £12,000

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A rare John Bower ornamental turning lathe, circa 1840,

with floating head-stock specifically for screw cutting with iron heads, steel bed-plate, mahogany bench and frame with foot treadle and overhead pulley and drive, together with separate mahogany case with hinged door at the front opening to five drawers containing a wide range of accessories including slide rests, button frames and hand tools, the bed-plate 41 1/2 ins (106cm) long, overall height 76 ins (193cm)

Footnotes

John Thomas Bower was born in Kirriemuir, near Forfar in Scotland around 1795-6. He moved eventually to London where he conducted his business as engine-lathe and toolmaker, at 13 King Street, Clerkenwell. He was one of the most skillful makers of ornamental turning lathes and rose engines both for
amateurs and for the jewellery and other engine-turning trades, and his rose engines and combined rose engine/ornamental-turning lathes are among the finest ever made. Each of his O.T. & R.E. lathes is different but the characteristics of his work are easily recognisable. John Bower died on 25th August 1849.(information from www.ornamentalturning.com)

Additional information

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