tail stock spanner for SB13B lathe

[desbromilow]

Those type of gear spanners are an option, but I chose the path I took based on the following:
a) - trying to preserve the "look" of the original lathe as much as possible (SB13B is from 1939) and avoid modification of the original
b) - keeping the lathe simple to use.

I had commenced designing a cam lock, and when I talked about it on the SB group, it was pointed out that once you have the nut "dialled in" it only takes about 1/4 of a turn between free enough to slide, vs locked tight... with a rigid spanner, I have found that that assessment is correct, the spanner is less work to build than a camlock, and the rigid spanner is more in keeping with the rest of the vintage lathe.

The easiest way to fasten / unfasten the nut that locks the tailstock I found is with a ratcheting spanner of the type sold e.g. here https://www.aliexpress.com/item/3290...archweb201603_
The important property here is that the ratchet is both flat and flexible, i.e. it will fit easily into a constrained space. And because the spanner is ratchet-operated, tightening or loosening a nut is quick.