Lathe duplicator - video

[Frank S]

What we can't see here is how the metal bracket is mounted. There is the possibility that it is mounted to the plate and the grinder. If that is the case, the plumbing strap is just a rear stabilizing hold down keeping the grinder in the wood saddle. The guard should be rotated forward a bit more but still allow a view of the actual point of work being done, or maybe a plexi shield to prevent chips flying towards the operator would be better. Adding a handle for controlling the movement would be a good idea though, at least it would get fingers farther away from rotating parts.
My grandpa Mathes, yes a cousin to that family, made the proto type cabinets for their products. He told me once that there were two kinds of wood workers, those who had missing digits and those who were going either lose a finger or nearly lose a finger