A RARE LARGE STEEL-FRAMED CLOCKMAKERS WHEEL CUTTING ENGINE Unsigned, probably German, late 19th century The cutter frame with lever operated vertical dovetail slide incorporating screw adjustment for the stop above screw-adjusted horizontal slide acting both in the X and Y, the 10 inch brass circular index plate with twenty-five division rings ranging in even numbers from 68 to 140 with some omissions in the sequence located via locking sprung detent fixed to the front of the frame and with central arbor passing through the box-shaped frame to hold the work against an adjustable end-stop incorporating dumb-bell adjustment to the large curved top-arm applied with a brass button stamped 193 to the outside edge, the whole raised on four steel down-curved supports with substantial box stretcher between. Length of frame 48cm (19ins); the whole approximately 63.5cm (25ins) long, 36cm (14ins) wide, 60 cm (23.5ins) high overall. The overall design, construction and layout of the current lot can be broadly compared to a German iron-framed wheel cutting engine illustrated in Crom, Theodore R. Horological Shop Tools 1700-1900 on page 634 (Figure 1276). Condition Report: Tool is basically complete and appears to be in working order, one of the crank keys for the slide is a replacement as is the wooden handle for the up-down lever. The frame has been repainted black with some flaking/wear to the finish revealing green beneath. The brass fittings are generally oxidised and the steelwork has light historic pitting. Condition Report Disclaimer