A simple plain turning affair - though with a backgeared headstock - the W.B.Haigh, Gruban & Co. lathe was typical of those manufactured in the late 1800. Made by a company famous for its woodworking machines - at one time it claimed to be the largest maker of such in the U.K. - the lathe was perhaps unusual in having its cast-iron legs formed as bars. Attached to the rear of the legs was the once obligatory extensions that provided a support for a wooden-topped work bench. The screw-feed compound slide rest assembly was clamped to the bed by the usual through bolt - and there would no doubt have been a T-rest supplied as well for hand turning in brass and wood.
Unfortunately, the only known surviving example has - despite evidence of recent use - been left outside to rust. Happily, it does look eminently restorable and all the parts - save for the treadle-operated flywheel -  appear to be intact.
Never mind the lathe, feel the width of the story….
Sources of information:
http://vintagemachinery.org
1871 census reports that W. B. Haigh & Co. employed 47 men and 5 boys.
1875 The Commercial Directory of Liverpool lists "Haigh W. B., Globe works, Hill street" under "Machinists" in the "Lancashire Towns Section".
1883-03-09 "The Engineer" magazine.

William Blacket Haigh (or William Blackett Haige (it appears that he was not consistent in the spelling) established W. B. Haigh & Co., Ltd., Globe Iron Works, in 1854. Judging by patent records, Haigh established his business to manufacture a patent mortising machine. His product line expanded to include saw benches, tenoners, spindle shapers, moulders, and lathes, etc.
A son, also William Blackett Haigh, was born in 1855, and joined his father's business in 1871. The junior Haigh worked on the factory floor, proving to be an able mechanic. When the senior Haigh died in 1883, the junior Haigh assumed control of the business which continued to thrive under his leadership. However, within a year of assuming control of the business he developed tuberculosis. Trips to Australia and Germany failed to halt the disease's progression and he died in December of 1888. It is not clear who took over the business but it appears that ownership, at least, remained within the Haigh family. The ensuing years saw a gradual decline in the company's fortunes.
In 1893, a young businessman, Johann Wilhelm Gruban, moved from Germany to open an English branch of Leipzig-based woodworking machinery maker Ernst Kirchner & Co. The timing of the events is murky but Gruban changed his name to John George William Gruban, became a British citizen, joined the now ailing firm of W. B. Haigh & Co. and became a full partner in the business, which in 1912 became W. B. Haigh, Gruban & Co. By that time Gruban's efforts had brought considerable success and Haigh Gruban was touting themselves as the largest woodworking machinery manufacturers in the U.K. With the outbreak of war with Germany, Gruban was concerned about his continuing ability to win the government contracts that were a significant portion of his firm's revenues; he was also seeking funds to expand the business. He hired Frederick Handel Booth, chairman of the Yorkshire Iron & Coal Co., Member of Parliament for Pontefract, and a Liberal Party insider. Gruban paid Booth £400 for his lobbying services, but Booth apparently felt this wasn't enough and asked for 10% of the value of a £6000 contract that Haigh Gruban was being awarded. When Gruban refused to make this illegal payment, Booth began quietly working against Gruban and his company. A letter from Lewis Ransome, of woodworking machinery maker A. Ransome & Co., played on prejudices against Germans and warned that Haigh Gruban should not be granted any war-related business. The Secretary to the Munitions Department endorsed this suggested action. Booth then took this information to Gruban and told him that he should hand over control of the business to Booth to avoid Gruban's imminent arrest. Gruban did so, and Booth promptly wrote to the ministry of munition that Gruban had "taken leave of his senses". Within a week Gruban was arrested and interned.
Gruban sued for, and won, his freedom from internment, and then sued Booth for damages. This was in the aftermath of the sinking of the Lusitania by German U-boats and there was enormous public interest in this "German" who was suing an M.P. The evidence against Booth was damning and the jury of British citizens took only 10 minutes to return a verdict in Gruban's favour awarding him £3,950 in damages.