Built from around 1880 the cheaply produced and barely adequate Goodell miniature treadle lathe confounded its critics by staying in production until at least 1939 - and possibly longer. Prices were interesting: on its introduction the makers asked $10, with an extra $2 for the fret-saw attachment - yet by 1925 the price had risen to only $26. In 1904 (with the price still at $10 and including a wood-screw chuck and five tools) an even cheaper version was being offered branded the Companion at just $7. This version was, according to the makers, built from the same castings but not as well finished - nor did it include a chuck, or more than three turning tools. Although still listed in 1912, after the Great War (1914-18) it has disappeared, leaving just the original to continue.
With a 2.5-inch centre height and 12 to 14 inches between centres, this was a very small machine. Indeed, its overall construction was almost toy-like - with only 28 inches from floor to the surface of the bed and a width of 25 inches. The rim of the flywheel was machined with two pulley grooves and, because these were the same size, as the round leather belt (which lathes.co.uk can supply) was transferred from one of the two speeds to the other it was necessary to slide across the neatly-arranged and adjustable jockey pulley to maintain belt tension.
Exported to the UK, the lathe was marketed there by the well-known Hobbies concern (once a leader in the provision of light machinery for the home workshop) with the easily-changed foot plate being cast with the Hobbies name and the headstock-end leg, which normally carried the American maker's name cast in, left blank. A fret saw attachment was also available and, judging by the number surviving with the fitting, must have been a very popular addition. One of these lathes, an original Goodell version, is displayed in the

1939 and still available - an extract from the catalogue of that year. The lathe and fretsaw attachment continued to be sold in the UK branded as a "Hobbies" until at least the late 1950s. Another, cheaper Hobbies model was sold with the main elements in aluminium rather than cast iron

Identical to the model sold in the United states, the UK version was sold by "Hobbies" with the footplate changed to incorporate the Company Logo and the headstock end leg, which normally carried the American makers name cast in, left blank.

A neat jockey pulley ensured that the drive belt was well wrapped around the rim of the flywheel and tension maintained when moved from one speed to another.