Tensioner for an endless belt driven wood lathe

An endless belt driven wood lathe or the like is disclosed as having an endless belt tension adjustment device for a motor driven belt pulley and associated endless belt. The belt pulley is driven by a generally horizontal shaft extending from a motor that is pivotally mounted to a motor housing. The motor is pivotally mounted to the motor housing along a shaft that is generally parallel to the motor shaft about which the belt pulley is journalled. An endless belt adjustment device is connected to the motor through adjustable slot means in the motor housing to cause the motor to be pivoted relative to the motor housing while predetermined spring tension force is applied to the motor, including the motor shaft journalled belt pulley and endless belt entrained thereabout. The belt pulley preferably includes a series of stepped pulley sections each having an outer surface which is configured to engage a poly-V endless belt in a compact and efficient construction. A simply constructed and easy-to-assemble supporting bed for the wood lathe or the like is also disclosed.