I'm sure we all look forwards to seeing the poor old thing back as it should be!

It's noticeably far worse from saddle to tail end – under a leaking roof?

The right-hand faceplate looks Drummond-pattern though the Myford name's clear on the guard.

The four small holes in that – and those two in the cross-slide – look as if user-drilled to hold specific work-pieces or accessories, but overall it does look as if that user was a careful one – no obvious "oops" grooves in the faceplates, or missing teeth visible in the headstock wheels.

Looks like it was possibly a woodwoorker's lathe with the motor belted straight to the lathe spindle pulley with no countershaft, making rpm too high for most metalworking. Holes in the cross slide possibly then for a woodworker's tool rest.

Looks like you have a job there for sure. But if the half of the bed towards the headstock is not too bad you should be able to make something useable out of it. Surprising what these old lathes can be nursed into doing. Beware though: vintage machine tool restoration can turn into a hobby of its own!

Edited By Hopper on 04/04/2019 00:33:50

Aha. Makes perfect sense now you point it out.

Some simple measurements and observations can identify which of the different models ML1 to ML4 one is faced with:

ML1 & 2: 3 1/8" centre height, 15" between centres, 3 1/2" cross slide travel.

ML3 & 4: 3 1/2" centre height, 24" between centres, 4 1/2" cross slide travel.

ML1 & 3 ('Standard' models): Spindle bearings direct in headstock.

ML2 & 4 ('Superior' models): Bronze spindle bearings, shrouded ball thrust race.

My understanding from lathes.co.uk is that the cast-in headstock was abandoned in 1937, so from then until the ML1 and ML3 went out of production in 1941, all models had the removable headstock.

George

I would heat that handle up red and bend back straight. I've made a few similar for the old M-type using a ball turning tool. Stick the toolbit forward past the pivot point to turn the convex curve. You'll be able to do that once you get her up and running.

George,

Looking through the pictures John has sent me on Dropbox, the spindle nose looks like 3/4 inch but measured against a ruler, so it is probably 7/8 inch. The nose thread is certainly not 12 tpi, it is much coarser and again I have had to judge that from a ruler held against it

There is an odd rearward facing lug on John's lathe forming part of the rear spindle bearing, a feature new to me and certainly not present on my late father's ML4 that he bought new in 1945. I thought that was a feature of the earlier lathes, but I have no reason to believe that.

I modified my Dad's lathe with the larger diameter spindle collar of 1.250 inches to make ML7 chucks etc fit instead, the change to upgrade one of 7/8 inch thread is major, needing a new nose altogether but it can be done

Regards

Brian

Brian

Hi, by my reckoning, it is 12 T.P.I.

Regards Nick.

John,

Yes , a very helpful view. Taking 0.34" for four threads, I agree with Nick that it's 12 tpi. Scaling the view from that, I get very close to 1 1/8" for the register diameter. The thread diameter should be a little less than that to give a slightly slack fit. This allows the register to align screw-on accessories accurately. The register should be a very accurate 1.125" with no lumps or bumps or burrs.

The lathe was conceived and built in inches-and-fractions, so taking measurements in millimetres (usually a practice to be encouraged) doesn't provide very much help.

George