Rose Engine, Ornamental Turning machines.

This page is about the Rose Engine only.
Because this is complex subject with many, and i mean, many attachments to this lathe.
First how it works
Perhaps the most fascinating of the decorative arts is Engine Turning, a centuries-old craft that, today, involves the use of antique machines to engrave delicate patterns on metal watch components. Also known as guilloché, the fruits of this craft-very nearly a lost art-- can be found adorning all manner of watch parts including cases, dials and movements.
Engine turning is the act of cutting geometric patterns in a rotating metal surface with a stationary cutting tool called a rose engine. A similar type of engraving can be done with a straight-line engine, which is used for such patterns as Geneva stripes. The application of guilloché is a delicate process. The craftsman (guillocheur) must mount the piece to be decorated on his machine and ensure that all components are properly aligned. Then, the intricate pattern is carved into the metal line by line (or, in engine turning terms, thread by thread). The engraver must be careful not to carve too deeply, and careful to apply consistent force for each thread-though this process involves machinery, the artistry and technique of the guillocheur are of great importance.

This complex machine consists of many intricate parts including wheels, pulleys and rosettes, the heart of the engine. Many, many rosettes are available to the guillocheur-they represent his repertoire of patterns, of which more than one is often be used to decorate a single watch.

These classic machines, which were run by hand, are no longer produced. The last machines were manufactured around 1948-1949. Most of the machines used today to do this type of work were made between 1850 and 1948. Figure 1 shows a typical rose engine used for revolving work. The hand cranked, belt-driven headstock spindle revolves in the headstock frame, which is supported in the bed at two pivot points( Figs 1 and 2 ) {A}. The rose barrel {B} is fitted loosely to the spindle and locked by the pawl {C}attached to the spindle pulley and engaging the locking plate {D} of the rose barrel. The headstock frame is pushed towards the touch piece {E} by the spring {F} so that the selected rose or rosette rests upon the tip of the touch piece. As the spindle revolves, it rocks from side to side as the touch piece follows the shape of the rose as it turns. The cutting tool is held in a slide rest that is stationary and held by hand against the work as this takes place.

Rose engines for cutting guilloché have not been manufactured in over fifty years. Being an old and evolutionary art, there are earlier examples of guilloché on watches, including the famous dials and cases found adorning watches by A-L Breguet. Today, true guilloché is a luxury found mostly on high-grade timepieces. Because there are few available operating rose engines and fewer master guillocheurs practicing the art, such decoration is either not available or not within the budget of most firms who produce watches. It is an exclusive feature of fine watches.

Source: RGM
801 West Main St.
Mount Joy, Pa 17552 USA

Rose engines are still manufactured by some very talented engineers, but they are expensive.
In the For Sale Wanted section of the forum are a few very old and fine Rose Engines to see.