Introduced in the early 1920s, the plain-turning T-L was a simple pattern-makers' lathe and intended for both wood and light-duty metal work - it was also marketed as being suitable for work in electrical repair shops and, in this form had a 11/4 x 12 t.p.i. spindle-nose thread rather than 11/2" x 8 t.p.i. used on the pattern makers' version.  On all versions, the spindle running direct in the cast iron of the headstock with lubrication supplied from an oil reservoir formed below the spindle. A simple "bead chain", sitting in a grove half-way along the bearing, was used to dip into and lift the lubricant. All T-L lathes so far found, no matter how badly abused, have spindle bearings in good condition - a confirmation that, with the right metallurgy (free graphite in the cast iron) and a fine surface finish (as also widely used by tens of thousands of South Bend lathes) this arrangement is almost a guarantee of a long and effective life (a picture of the "chain-lift" is below).
Oddly, for a pattern-makers' lathe (though most usefully), the T-L was fitted with power longitudinal feed by a keyway-equipped drive rod operating the usual type of worm-and-wheel mechanism within the apron (though no parts were interchangeable with Dalton metal lathes). The last patent Hubert Dalton took out was for an effective lift-up-and-lock changewheel guard hinge, and its registration number, together with date (1922), was cast into the bed. Although the same patent number can also be found on later machines of different Lot numbers, the T-L was the only model on which the hinge was used. Using just the changewheels supplied, seven rates of power sliding feed were available from a slowest of 0.007" per revolution of the spindle..