Here's an update:
About 3 months ago I bought an older Jet 10x24 lathe. This is late 70's model and came out of a race car shop so, it doesn't have a ton of miles on it and is in pretty good shape - if a bit dirty. I have been building up my frame building tool selection with Park BB thread/facing tools, fork crown cutter, headtube reamer/facer. I didn't have a headset press. I remember White INdustries making one a long while back and it was a super nice tool with bearings and such. After a bit of searching online I couldn't find one and thought...why not make one?!
I got some 2" aluminum rod, Mcmaster-Carr helped with bearings and I went to work making chips on the lathe. What used to take a block of wood and hammer now takes light twisting motion.
To the machinists and engineers out there, please be kind. I'm sure my finish isn't up to snuff and there are a few design changes I want to make but for a prototype, it works pretty well. The real one will be made from stainless and this will get donated to the local bike tool library.
high res pics here:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/54319503@N05/