Watchmakers' turns are a simple type of lathe. The work was mounted between points and revolved forwards and backwards by a bow, which had a thread (usually a horsehair) wrapped around a collet or small pulley attached to the work. The turning tool (graver) was held against a T rest as in a woodturning lathe. The sharpened tip of the graver was applied to the work at the correct angle and cut only on the downstroke of the bow, when the work was revolving towards the operator. Later, with the advent of electricity, a small electric motor was used to drive a small lathe, which held the work in a collet or chuck, and cutting was continuous, rendering the turns largely obsolete.