Lathe restoration SN20

[Toolmaker51]

What material scraper is, how to replace

First off this machine hasn't issues of many, many I've run across.
So #1. it's not Chineseium.
#2. it probably doesn't have plastic gears.
#3. It does have separate feed and threading shafts.
#4. The chip pan is sure to catch coolant. I had to run [gag] a Chineseium while back and the gutters not only leaked, didn't even project beyond certain edges to stop plain drips. I'm not elitist or machine snob, but who hasn't watched rain on surfaces???
I will point out avatar to left. It's ~60 years old, 9800 pounds and I've swung 20" missile rings. My second capital purchase, I probably investigated 100 lathes with capabilities desired; sifting about a dozen when this came to auction. Shot to A list immediately.

Your SN20 carriage bridges a pair of ways; front and back and across side to side, a great surface area increase. The gap shown by your straight edge may or may not have significance. It'll be common up adjacent to headstock; if that gap is at far right side that's serious wear. I'll bet that's not the case. And definitely not beyond repair. At this instant though, it's not within scope of a couple forum posts.

Scrapers have been made in a variety of material. These can be made of solid brass, felt, shim stock, oilproof rubber, engineered plastics...or a combination. The best scrapers are composite, ie felt oilers and metal covers to protect felt and displace build up of chips. Whole idea is eliminating their access into sliding surface. 100% is nice, but hard to achieve.