PRENTICE BROTHERS CO.
WORCESTER, MASS.
11" HAND LATHE
Albert F. Prentice and his brother Vernon F. Prentice began manufacturing lathes in 1872. In 1877 they sold out to
F.E. Reed, who in 1881, reorganized the company as the F.E. Reed Co. A third brother Benjamin W. Prentice joined
his brothers and they formed the Prentice Brothers Co. They made hand lathes as well as a large selection of machine
and engine lathes.
This lathe actually started out as an engine lathe. Someone stripped off all the gears and converted it to a woodworking
lathe. At that time the flat belt pulley was replaced with a modern v-belt pulley. I plan to turn a mahogany pulley to
convert the lathe back to flat belt drive. All the lathes made in Worcester at this time are of common origin. This one is
no exception. The phosphor bronze bushings and channelled bed are common features of all Worcester lathes.
F.E. Reed, who in 1881, reorganized the company as the F.E. Reed Co. A third brother Benjamin W. Prentice joined
his brothers and they formed the Prentice Brothers Co. They made hand lathes as well as a large selection of machine
and engine lathes.
This lathe actually started out as an engine lathe. Someone stripped off all the gears and converted it to a woodworking
lathe. At that time the flat belt pulley was replaced with a modern v-belt pulley. I plan to turn a mahogany pulley to
convert the lathe back to flat belt drive. All the lathes made in Worcester at this time are of common origin. This one is
no exception. The phosphor bronze bushings and channelled bed are common features of all Worcester lathes.
This illustration is from an Prentice
Brothers catalog from the 1880's.
Brothers catalog from the 1880's.