CLI. In the chief is another sort of Mandrel called a Pin Mandrell. This is made with a long Wooden shank, to fit stiff into a round hole that is made in the Work that is to be Turned. These are also termed Shank Mandrels; which Mandrels with Iron Shanks are much used by Turners that turn Bobbins and such like Work; because a Wooden shank to fit the small hole through the work, would not be strong enough to carry the work about.
There is another Mandrell called an Hollow Mandrel, it is both hollow, and used to turn hollow things in it: It hath but one center hole belonging to it, which is at the Rowler end or Neck, but it hath a shank that supplies the office of another Center hole, which is put into one of the holes of the Joint Collar, described in numb. 153.
The second Instrument in this quarter is termed a Sweepe, or a Mathematical instrument called a Sweep.
It is a long Bar of Iron, and is termed the Beam of the Sweep, which hath in the center point of it (in a Center hole, made in a square Stud of Metal) a center fixed; also a Socket to ride on the Beam, which is removed at pleasure, nearer or farther from the Center; to this is Filed a Tooth of Steel with such roundings and hollows in the bottom of it, as is intended there shall be hollows or rounding in the work; then removing the Socket till it Tooth stand upon the intended place, on the Verge of the work, is there screwed fast on the Beam, it is prepared for the work, which if the Workman hold the head of the Center in his left hand, and with his right draw about the Beam and Tooth, it will cut and tear away great Flakes of Metal, till the thing worked upon hath received the whole form of Mouldings the Tooth will make.
The same Instrument with a Moulding Plain fixed on it, will do the same work on Wood, making round Mouldings.
— From Randle Holme’s “The Academy of Armory, or, A Storehouse of Armory and Blazon” Book III, Chapter VIII, Plate 2. Why am I reading this?