Unique - and almost certainly never put into production or even, the writer would guess, built as a prototype -  the Holt friction-drive watchmakers' lathe was an interesting but unnecessarily complicated and would potentially expensive to build..
Mounted on a rack-and-pinion, rise-and-fall column (A) the lathe had a large circular head (G) fitted with four spindles (N X Y Z) arranged around its periphery.
Drive came from a treadle mechanism (FS) through a height-adjustable link to a large flywheel whose outer surface was covered with a friction band, in leather or some other material. Each of the four spindles was attached to a pulley, all of different diameters to give a range of spindle speeds. By rotating the head (G) until the required spindle was over the flywheel, and adjusting the flywheel up or down  to make contact with it, the drive could be connected. A mechanism, using a handle and a pin (H, Q P) was provided to lock the head in place when the drive was connected with the pressure of the drive able to be regulated by a large nut (E) working against what was called a "rubber spring or cushion".
One supposes that this device might have been handy if the spindles were other than just fixed centers - though of course it was possible for simple tools such as " a chuck, an emery wheel, a buffer, a knurl, and a finishing wheel" to be arranged so that a job could be passed from one to the other. Unfortunately, each time the job was moved, it was inevitable that the speed would need to be changed and the pressure of the friction wheel altered - a tiresome and inconvenient process..