As with windows – seven ate nine!!

Misnamed (counted) 254? Obviously lost count!

Robert Butler

"Progress is all very well, but it has been going on far too long," Mr Algernon Myford said when queried on the possibility by the press. That is why Myford is today the world's leading supplier of machine tools.

I am taking that comment as being a slightly sarcastic, but amusing, quip. However, it could be equally applied to a whole bunch of erstwhile British manufacturers who had an initially successful product and just kept on producing basically the same thing with very little investment, enhancement or improvement until the market and technology moved on and other and other, mostly foreign, manufacturers overtook them.

I will cite Morgan Cars, for example, which is now an Italian company, I believe. Founded in the 1930's and producing basically the same car until the 21st century. Why did it never move on and become like a British version of Toyota or Nissan? It just puzzles me.

Edited By Chris Crew on 31/05/2023 07:19:15

Edited By Chris Crew on 31/05/2023 07:20:05

Yes just a little bit tongue-in-cheek, but there is a lot of truth behind it, as you say. The British motorbike industry was another one that did exactly the same. Whole books have been written on its demise. But basically producing 1930s designs updated along the way a little bit until their demise in the 1970s. Thanks to short-sighted management still banging out cast-iron-cylindered, vibrating, pushrod twins with separate four speed gearboxes and kickstarters when the opposition had all alloy, overhead cam smooth four cylinders with five speeds and electric start, CV carbs and fresh styling. And levels of reliability unrivalled even today.

Then new Triumph came along 20 years later and proved British industry could do it, from the ground up once old traditions and old management practices were dead and buried. But they missed the boat to be the new Honda or Yamaha etc.

The new engines were developed in conjunction with Kawasaki

Although entirely fictional, Mr Algernon Myford will always now stick in my memory, embellished with a formidable moustache which he twirled whilst making his famous quote about progress.

Nice to see some good natured humour on the forum.

Apologies Hopper, you have obviously researched this very thoroughly, I'l have to read Mr Whitworth Socketts book!

Dave

Ten out of ten Hopper, Gold star and go to the top of the class ! Noel.

I'd better stop then before I ruin my reputation. GHT and Lawrence in one allusion is as good as I get.

They did make an ML8 which was an 8" wood lathe and an ML10, but its 6.5" swing had no relation to 10l. Neither did the ML1-4 series.

I never thought of the 7 in ML7 being related to the swing but it does explain the jump from ML4 to ML7.

I guess if you want a 9" classic lathe you have to go to a South Bend or one of its many clones, Boxford, Hercus etc.

A 254+ faceplate at 10 15/16 inches has only a few tens of thou clearance.

It was pretty easy to raise the headstock by 1/2"; likewise the tailstock. I am not quite sure what lifts the tool: is the cross-slide thicker, the top-slide, or the tool-post?