President’s talk Thursday 29th October 2026 – Report by J. Aldersley
Graham Roper gave a very interesting talk on the Ornamental Lathe.
Attending the talk we had members Colin, John P, Howard, Neil C and Barrie with council members Myself, Gordon, Alex, John B, Malcolm, Ian, Andrew and Sam our host. After some of the usual equipment issues, Sam managed to sort a connection to the screen in the WDS meeting room and Graham cracked on with his talk.
Your reporter had been involved in Graham’s talk, as you are aware he’s a nosey (bleep Ed.) at the best of times and had seen Graham’s ornamental lathe a couple of times. You would have thought your reporter knew everything there is to know about turning (the term for working on a lathe) having used one at school. My Dad has two in his garage (ex tool room turner, stick that in your pipe Sir Keir). I served my time which included the EITB H2 turning module. Later working on more CNC type lathes than I can remember, working (very briefly) at Boxford Lathes as a production engineer, nearly finished, then 10 years turning rubber and plastic and finishing by teaching students at Leeds City College, Phew ! BUT guess what ? I hadn’t a clue about Graham’s lathe other than knowing it was this…..
The headstock looked familiar as did the tailstock and it had a bed, but the rest was very strange. Graham started with describing the three types of machines, and we all probably wondered with whom and how did all this start, all before electricity or steam, hand crafted to produce some weird and wonderful ornaments.
A sample of a rose engine made part….
Again I have to announce that those in the know will find several discrepancies in this fine report of mine, but by now I would have hoped you would have realised I am a “knob stick” (Well, we all think you’re doing a great job ! Ed.) Graham classed the machines as Ornamental Lathe, Rose Engine Ornamental Lathe and another type being a Guilloche and presented some pictures of them and some You Tube video of samples working. At this point your reporter was wondering even more how the parts of the machines worked, how they were made and worse how do you operate the machine to create such parts, using a treadle (foot power). The Guilloche machine is something that Graham has experience of, being a very good watch and clock specialist, something most don’t know. He’s extremely knowledgeable about timepieces, so have a look at the face of this watch and if you fancy have a look at the name on it and do a bit of Google on him.
There are a few decent You Tube videos and Graham showed a few, this wasn’t one of them but your reporter would encourage you to have a delve, click the links….
The face has been machined using a Guilloche machine, on the video it shows the use of microscope. Graham during questions mentioned that most operators were knackered by their early 30’s because their eyesight was shot.
Graham gave his history lesson, how monks probably developed the lathe in the 1500s making furniture legs, with development with the Guilloche founder making pick handles. Just imagine that for entrepreneurism. Probably up to 15 years to learn the more complex machines. The rich and wealthy owned the machines to show off. Could they work them ?
Who knows… the cost of a machine may have been the cost of two town houses in London, very expensive.
Another video below is another feature produced on a Rose Lathe.
Once we were more baffled seeing some of the parts made exclusively on ornamental lathes Graham showed some of the attachments that he has on his machine,
Indexing the head stock….
The tool post, what we might call a conventional lathe carriage….
Some of the tackle that came in walnut cabinets, which are a work of art in themselves….
Other photos are of what would be a chuck, would because the chuck had not been invented….
The tool sharpening gauge next….
And to finish off the sharpening equipment….
Graham stated the tools are extremely sharp and of excellent quality, with different grinding stones and a glass plate to finish polish or hone to finish…..
So the people below enjoyed the talk, some have asked to have their faces hidden as they told their partners they have gone to a lap dancing bar….. (These reports are getting very cheeky ! Ed.)
Your reporter wants to thank Graham for a great talk and Sam at WDS for having us over and looking after us.
Again, please come to the talks. If you feel they are not for you let us know what you would like to hear about and we can see if it’s possible.
J. Aldersley – October 2026
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