precision lathes

[GOONBIRD]

how were the first precision lathes made, without a precision lathe available to turn the parts? were the gears etc on the early chronometers actualy made by hand?

[Jay70]

I'ts something I have always wanted to know as well GOONBIRD.

[kempie]

It's probably true to say that one of the most important leaps in engineering was the facility to cut standardised screwthreads, with such lathes developed in the mid 1800s. Prior to this every bolt manufactured would require a specific nut to match its thread and if either was lost then the other would effectively become redundant.

http://www.lathes.co.uk/latheparts/page6.html