Shop Truths, Phrases, Tales; and Outright Lies

[MeJasonT]

How big is the lathe that has to turn the chuck/faceplates for a MacIntosh-Hemphill lathe, its just to massive to comprehend. The lathe that makes the lathe that made it would be even bigger, do you see where i'm going with this. I have a friend who is a partner in Lawson Engineers in Cumbria who build large winch's for the offshore/submersible industry, I can remember Lawson's making there own gap bed to turn a long centre shaft. on this particular lathe they had to take out a section of the workshop wall to get the completed winch drum outside. How is That for thinking on your feet, you just don't say no to customers when you are a small business.