Difficult to say who the maker is – just like golden retrievers, they all look similar! I think the hole is for a locating peg. I seem to remember the college machines had these and the idea was that a pin with a knurled head was inserted into the hole and the tool post rotated so that it lined up with a hole in the top slide. Pin pushed down and a positive, repeatable, position was achieved.

New toolholders ? – take one to a show and try against those on sale??

Cheers

Norman

Hi… If the tool holders are about 50mm long by 35mm approx (Myford size) and look like their quality items – They may made by aandrprecisionltd (eBay seller name) They don't have any for sale at the moment but may be worth a try. They are a copy of the Dickson quick change tool post & holders.

Click on for more dimensional info.  http://www.lathes.co.uk/latheparts/page13.html

Regards John

Edited By Johnboy25 on 27/11/2013 21:52:56

Hello Oompa Lumpa

The toolpost you have seems to be a copy of the Dickson type quick change toolpost, if not a genuine Dickson. These are sold by, amongst others, Chronos, RDG and Myford. These come in different sizes, as well as the tool holders. the one you have might be the same size used on Myford lathes if your lathe is a Chester DB7 or 8, but measure before ordering.

The hole in the corner is for fitting a long plunger that locates in a hole drilled in the topslide so that the toolpost can be locked square to the topslide if required. Some of them have a hole in each corner. The plunger has a threaded hole in the top, or similar, so it can be pulled out to allow the toolpost to be swivelled round if needed.

 The price as well as the quality varies between suppliers.

Regards.

Edited By Lathejack on 27/11/2013 21:53:06

Hi, newbie here (long time lurker though)I'm a farrier /blacksmith ,and I've got a Smart&Brown M. Toolpost was a pain so I modified a secondhand Dixon QC toolpost to suit by milling a good bit from the lower mounting face, to get it low enough . It kinda works !

Anyway, amongst the tool holders is one with a Morse 1 hole… What is it used for ?? Must take ages to set it up for boring , when the tailstock is already centred, ready and waiting for the same job? Ta !

The last batch of "Genuine" Myford QC were made for "OLD" Myford by A&R Precision Limited, who still manufacture them for sale. They certainly fit properly.

I've wondered about that myself. I've seen cross slide mounting morse attachments on larger machines to power drill (not bore btw) for production, so can only assume the the toolholder is for the same job. The only other use I can think of is for holding small boring bars in arbors or collets. Can anyone else enlighten us?

When purchasing new holders don't rely on "its a myford size" or equivalent. There have been various versions and marketing tricks over the years depending on whether they want they want their small one looking like a cheap big one or make you think you need the bigger more expensive one for your lathe.
So measure the centres of the Vs and get the supplier to confirm. They usually like to give a block size based on theri hat size units of something. I had a 'Boxford' one from an ME advertiser ten years ago but it now takes 'Myford' size holders according to sme rival sources.

Reminds me to put holders on my Sandown list. – that gives me a chance to measure the actual item before purchase.