Offered originally as the 6-inch centre height "A.L.1", "A.L.2" and "A.L.3" and 8-inch "A.L.Y.1", "A.L.Y.2" and "A.L.Y.3" (the former eventually being dropped), this range of heavy, all cast-iron Dominion  lathes gained an "A" suffix to their model type when fitted with a very robust rack-feed carriage and compound slide rest. The top slide could be swivelled through 360°, was graduated 45° each side of central and carried an "American" style toolpost. Although heavy-duty, the slide rest assembly was basic, with the feed screws lacking micrometer dials and turned by antique-looking crank handles.
Looking very similar to, and obviously inspired by the Wadkin RS - though of somewhat lighter build but still excellent quality - the A.L. range was made in a  "round-style" from the 1950s as a  Mk. 1 (the early models having 3-speeds and the later 4)  and then (with a few mechanical changes) as a more modern-looking 4-speed "angular" Mk. 2 from the early 1960s onwards. On the Mk. 1 6-inch centre height models the 1.25 h.p. motor gave speeds  listed as 550, 850, 1250 and 1800 r.p.m. while the 2 h.p. fitted to the Mk. 1 8.5-inch provided 375, 520, 850 and 1200 r.p.m. On Mk. 2 models the speeds were adjusted very slightly, becoming: 390, 580, 830 and 1180 r.p.m. - though the makers offered to vary any of the ranges, including the eight speeds when driven by a 2-speed motor - to suit a customer's particular requirements. Today, with a 3-phase motor controlled by a variable-frequency drive, both much finer control and a greater range of spindle speeds is possible. Drive was by a wide, smooth-running, leather belt (best changed for one of these), power coming from a 2 h.p. motor (normally single-speed, but with the option of two) mounted in the base of the headstock's cast-iron plinth. Speed changes were made by pressing a foot lever to slightly lift the motor and then operating a belt shifter, this being controlled - as on the Wadkin - by an indented-position quadrant lever on the plinth's front face. Very early Mk. 1 lathes had their the motor-lift pedal located inconveniently on the plinth's outboard face, on later models (and the Mk. 2) it was in a much more sensible position at the front. The maker's specification listed a headstock spindle locking pin as being fitted to all Mk. 1 and Mk. 2 machines (all examples seen being so equipped) and the Mk. 2 equipped with a spindle brake, though it is uncertain if this was, indeed, a standard fitting across the range. While all known Mk. 1 lathes lacked any form of spindle-speed plate or other indicator of what had been selected, all Mk. 2 versions carried one.
Mk. 1 machines were supplied in standard form with the facility to mount just an inboard faceplate, the spindle, running in a pair of ball races, carrying a 1.75" x 6 t.p.i. thread if a 6-inch model but a robust 2-inch., 4.5 t.p.i. thread when an 8-inch; both lathes had a No. 3 Morse taper socket nose. Although a deep and wide detachable gap piece was provided on all versions - this allowing a disc 25 inches in diameter to be turned - as an option the spindle could be extended through the left-hand bearing to allow bowl turning using a heavy, free-standing, floor-mounted tool rest. The left hand spindle thread (11/8" x 7 t.p.i.) was unusual in being backed by a short, steep taper, the faceplate supplied to fit it being listed as 12 inches in diameter.
Also equipped with the same No. 3 Morse taper as the headstock spindle, the tailstock could be set over for the turning of slight tapers..

Dominion Mk. 1 A.L.Y. 1, 2 and 3 - respectively 38, 66 and 90 inches (1050, 1650 and 2250 mm) between centres. The model illustrated is a standard machine, supplied without an extended spindle for outboard bowl turning

Early Dominion Mk. 1 long-bed A.L.Y. 3A with 90 inches (2250 mm) between centres and fitted with a central bed support , a screw-feed compound slide rest, extended spindle to the left and a free-standing bowl-turning rest.

Dominion Mk. 1 A.L.(Y.) fitted with a very robust rack-feed carriage and compound slide rest carried the suffix "A". The slide rest screws lacked micrometer dial and were turned by crank handles

Even though the overall appearance was more modern, the A.L.Y. lathes retained the compound slide rest from the earlier models

Picture left and below from Brian at finewoodcaver.com, a craftsman involved in high-quality carving and other special commissions.