Now very rare, the Webster & Howarth lathe was built in Coventry, England, by a Company that was to become, from 1887, rather better known as Webster & Bennett builders of various machine tools but especially, in later years, boring and turning mills.
Although now somewhat modified the only example of the lathe to appear in recent years has the appearance of one built circa 1880 to 1900 - though if Webster & Bennett continued to brand some of their products with the older name is not known.
Of around 6 inches in centre height and taking 36 inches between centres the lathe is of absolutely conventional design and of the very simple plain-turning type - and so bereft of screwcutting and, almost certainly, backgear as well. Judging by the lack of lugs on the rear of the legs it's likely that this particular example was not fitted with a treadle drive unit but intended for coupling to a factory's overhead line-drive system..