What are Brass Collets meant for?

[ScroungerLee]

I came across a set of brass collets for a South Bend lathe.  I didn't know such a thing existed.  I am thinking there must be some uses where brass is better than steel?  What should they NOT be used for so as not to damage them?

Lee

[bogstandard]

Lee,

In 5C collets you can buy brass and nylon emergency collets, that you bore yourself to whatever size is required.

I suspect what you have is the same sort of idea.


Bogs

[ScroungerLee]

Thanks for your input Bogs.  These seem to be a set though.
Each is in it's own Bakelite container with a clear (or used to be clear 70 yrs ago) top.   I love these old tools.  You can tell that accountants had nothing to do with the design

My question still remains, why brass?  It seems I should be careful what I use these for to avoid damaging them?

Thanks as always,

Lee

[Bernd]

Could be that they didn't want to damage the part that they were going to hold in the collet such as ground surfaces. 

Bernd

[ScroungerLee]

Yeah, that makes sense.  I wonder if they were ordered with the lathe.  This is almost tempting me to get the original whatsit card from South Bend to see who ordered this all those years ago. 

Lee

[John Hill]

They sound like the sort of thing that should be put carefully on the shelf and looked at every five years or so!