Watchmakers' Lathes
Instrument Lathes
Turret Lathes
Turret Lathe Tooling
Accessories   
Chucks & Faceplates
Countershafts & Drives
Headstocks   
Micro Drilling   
Pivot Polish & Grinder
Screwcutting
Slide Rests   
Stands   
Utility Set   
Precision Bench Drill
Catalogue Cover

Unlike most other makers of miniature, high-precision machine tools, Louis Levin & Son Inc. are still in business and can be found at:
13550 Larwin Circle, Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670 U.S.A. 
Tel: (562) 802-8066 
FAX: (562) 802-3778. Web site http://www.levinlathe.com/
Their products now form what is probably the world's most complete range of machines designed for extreme-tolerance work - and so successful has the company been in promoting its product lines that, whilst almost all of Europe's makers of similar lathes have disappeared Levin, founded in 1923, continues to thrive.
The machines illustrated on the following pages are not Levin's current line - and the Code Numbers refer to their contemporary catalog listings from the 1950s and 1960s which are now different - but they are typical of those which watch, clock and mechanical instrument builders and repairers might expect to find on the second-hand market.
Levin-manufactured items, like all super-precision machine tools, have always been expensive but so sort after are they that depreciation is relatively modest, and they retain a good proportion of their list price for as long as they remain accurate and functional - no matter how old they are.

Whilst it is possible to buy a miniature lathe for a fraction of the price of a Levin (or other quality machine) if your work demands consistently high standards - or you need access to a range of properly-made accessories - then a precision lathe is a much more sensible choice. Used properly, within its limits, and carefully maintained, such a tool will outlast even the owner - whilst repaying him many times over with its sensitive feel, superb accuracy and pride of ownership.
The Levin lathe is of the "WW" type (after the American Webster Whitcomb lathe of 1889 which set the standard) the principal dimensions of which include a 50mm centre height (1.394") with 60 degree bed ways, 1.456" (37mm) wide on the top and carrying in its spindle, an 8mm collet with a 40 degree draw-in taper.
There have been many other makers of fine, precision tools in the USA and the largely unchanging nature of highly-skilled lathe handwork over the last one-hundred years can be seen by looking at the beautiful accessories made by, amongst others, Rivett, Waltham, Ames, Pratt & Whitney and Wade.
If you would like to know more about watchmakers' lathes, and how to use them, obtain a copy of the book The Watchmakers' Lathe by Donald De Carle - a classic publication.

Levin 3.94" swing x 9.5" between centres Heavy-Duty Instrument Lathe - shown without the standard  motor-drive unit
The machine was available under Code ACAF to take D Type collets with a maximum capacity of 5.16", or as Code ABMX to accept WW collets with a largest bore size of 3/16".
Standard equipment consisted of:
Rack-feed tailstock barrel with micrometer stop, 2 hard centres mounted on collets, tip-over hand rest, chip tray, bench, variable-speed motor drive and controls.
Further details of other lathes based on this model can be found here.

Levin Watchmaker's lathe of 3.94" swing and 3.5" between centres. This particular machine has a ball-bearing headstock and is fitted with a lever-action tailstock barrel.
Besides the ball-bearing headstock, the lathe was available with a choice of two different kinds of plain bearing. Either WW and D type collet fittings could be specified and the lathe bed was mounted on either single or twin supports,  depending upon its length.
More details of these lathes can be found here.