Very rare, only a handful appear to have been found, the Rivett 1020R was built in the mid to late 1940s and appears to have followed the 1020 of the early 1940s (and the subsequent 1020S and 1030S models). A little heavier than the 1020 at 4360 compared to 3900 lbs, the 1020R had fewer feeds and screwcutting pitches available - 72 as against 84.
As with all Rivett machine tools the quality and finish were outstanding and this looks to have been a very special - and very expensive - lathe indeed. The catalogue below gives a wealth of interesting detail.
One must presume that the all-mechanical, variable-speed drive system would have been the same as fitted to the 1020S and 1030S. Given the generic name "Reeves" in the United States and "Ainsworth" in the UK (both named after either the first successful producers or inventors of the system) the drive used a pair of expanding and contracting pulleys - connected by a wide V-belt - with one opening while the other closed. The system provided an almost flat torque curve from the lowest to highest speed - especially useful at low spindle speeds were a greater proportion of the motor's power was preserved compared to, for example, the electronic system fitted to the contemporary Hardinge HLV and later HLV-H. Details of the Rivett drive system, with pictures of a unit removed from a lathe, can be seen on this page.