Unknown tool

[HectorLooi]

Does anyone know what this tool is? The seller labelled it as a lathe/poising tool.

I bought it thinking that it was a truing tool. I was repairing a chiming clock with a bent wheel arbor at that time. 

When the tool arrived, I found out that there weren't any holes in the ends of the shafts to hold a pivot. So it couldn't be a truing tool.

Doesn't appear to be a lathe tool either.

Thanks in advance.

[watchweasol]

Hi Hector   It looks very much like a Jacot tool but lacks the extras and also resembles a basic Bow lathe which uses a bow with drive pulleys which are not there either.    So Its a bit of a hybrid may be cobbled together for sale ?  .  Google both watchmakers jacot tool  and watchmakers Bow Lathe for reference.   and also watch makers poising calipers          cheers

[Marc]

Try also googling watchmakers turns

[HectorLooi]

Thanks watchweasol. I'm familiar with a Jacot tool and bow lathe. Looks like I got conned into buying a franken-tool.

Nevermind. I'll probably modify it into something useful or just nail it onto my wall of shame. 

[oldhippy]

Looks like a watchmakers turn, but to me its incomplete.  

[Tmuir]

I'm with oldhippy, its a turns.

That knob in the centre would hold the tool rest in place which is missing.

A turns is a simple lathe that 'turns between centres' and would of been powered by hand with a bow.

Its a pretty early one though and quiet likely British made, look for a makers mark or name on it because if you can find one it will help date it.

Edited March 28, 2020 by Tmuir
Spelling mistake corrected

[watchweasol]

Hi Hector attached is a picture of the watchmakers turns with the tool rest and runners fitted, There are may styles of these depending where they were made.

[Watcher]

And here is a Swiss made turns with runners for pivot polishing driven by a bowed cord.

[HectorLooi]

Thanks for all your inputs. Looks like the tool I picked up is missing too many parts to be useful as a bow lathe. 

I'll probably turn it into a giant truing caliper for straightening clock wheels.

I still have a few more unidentified tools from watch lots that I picked up. I'll post them at a later date.