The lathe is one of the oldest machines in history. Though opinions do vary a bit, most experts agree that the first lathe was invented by the ancient Egyptians around 1300 BC. We know this because there are pictographs that show Egyptian men operating primitive lathes.

Of course, lathes have come a long way in 3300 years. Used by carpenters and other woodworkers, they were an essential machine for a myriad of popular projects. For example, they were needed to make tables, chairs, bowls and later baseball bats.

But as you might expect, the Industrial Revolution took the lathe from the small village workshop and placed it in huge factories. These machines were monstrous, sometimes the size of a small automobile, and they could only be operated by skilled workers.

These trained professionals were one part machinist the other part craftsman. They even had to serve as apprentices before they were assigned their own machines. They were difficult to master. But factory lathes were also extremely durable. Many of them were used through the Second World War and some of them even run today!

However, the old workhorses are not used much any more. Computerized lathes or CNC machines are fast becoming a staple in the modern factory. They are much quicker, more efficient and easier to operate than the old manual machines of the past. Unfortunately, the true craftsman of old is also in danger of becoming a thing of the past, as the operator of the modern machine is more of a supervisor than a craftsman. But manual lathes can still be found in many workshops of highly skilled metalworkers and woodworkers around the world, most of whom just enjoy their lathes as a simple avocation or hobby.