70 Years of the Myford Super 7

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70 Years of the Myford Super 7

This topic has 9 replies, 7 voices, and was last updated 4 July 2023 at 07:02 by Michael Gilligan.

Viewing 10 posts - 1 through 10 (of 10 total)

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3 July 2023 at 10:51 #650859
Neil Wyatt
Moderator
@neilwyatt
The Super 7 was introduced in 1953. Seventy years ago, I think we should mark this anniversary in MEW.

While I have 'had a go' of a Super 7, I have never owned one or made regular use of one, so anything I write would lack a true owner's perspective. If anyone with good knowledge of this landmark machine is interested in writing a combined history and review of the Super 7, could they drop me an email.

Let me have an idea of what you would expect to cover in the article.

I's also be pleased to receive 'letters to the editor' from Super 7 owners, sharing their experiences and perhaps photos of their machines.

Many thanks,

Neil

meweditor@mortons.co.uk
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3 July 2023 at 10:51 #38715
Neil Wyatt
Moderator
@neilwyatt
I’d like to celebrate this machine in an issue of MEW later this year.
3 July 2023 at 11:21 #650864
Speedy Builder5
Participant
@speedybuilder5
Yes and the BOXFORD lathes were made 7 years before the Myford 7. Should we celebrate that ?? Anyway, what is so special about 70 years old apart from the fact that there is not much else to write about ?
3 July 2023 at 14:44 #650886
DMB
Participant
@dmb
It all helps fill the mag. Every mag editor and every club newsletter editor is struggling with a lack of 'copy' to publish. Difference is, commercial mag editors have to produce a mag by a fixed regular publication date. I wouldn't like to be one. I belong to 3 model engineering clubs where the newsletter editors are all begging for contributions but do have considerable flexibility, only publishing when they have sufficient. I try to help out with regular contributions to one club but would have difficulty in writing something different for the other 2. I doubt if I can be of much use to Neil, since my old and grey (like me!) Super7 is no different to thousands of others. I have copied accessories already described over the years in ME/MEW/EIM, so nothing new there. Of 2 local clubs, one has a nice green little used Myford and the other club Myford is a ghastly maroon colour. I think it's awful but it doesn't detract from it's usefulness. Let's just say that my purchase of a Super7 was one of life's better decisions and wouldn't be without it.
3 July 2023 at 15:18 #650894
Neil Wyatt
Moderator
@neilwyatt
Actually, thanks to the generosity of MEW readers I have a healthy reserve of content for the magazine, although it was getting a bit low a couple of months ago.

The Myford Super 7 made more of an impact on this hobby than any other machine, until, arguably, the massive availability of affordable mini lathes that usurped it as the commonest choice of machine in the 21st century.

The amount of articles written for ME and MEW about Super 7s or about models and devices made on them is enormous, and far more than for any other machine.

Twenty years ago, almost everyone in the hobby was familiar with them, now rather less so, but there are still many in use, and they are still highly thought of.

Any birthday is arbitrary but the combination of 70 years, the fact it was designed with the needs of hobbyists in mind (unlike the Boxfords, which were teaching/light industrial machines). The emergence of a generation who are less familiar with them, but still interested in veteran machines, seems a decent pretext to explore a story that has so much to it and is so specific to our hobby.

Of course, a percentage of readers won't be interested, but that goes for any article we publish; I feel that this is a topic that would interest a high proportion of readers.

Neil

Edited By Neil Wyatt on 03/07/2023 15:19:59
3 July 2023 at 19:08 #650928
Chris Crew
Participant
@chriscrew66644
I think it is a good idea to celebrate a great British machine, but the mystery to me is why Myford kept producing the ML7 after the introduction of the Super 7. Cost obviously was a factor, but to produce two machines of the same size and capacity seems odd to me looking back. Most manufacturers delete their older products when new models are developed, but Myford chose to compete against itself in its own market space.
3 July 2023 at 22:01 #650941
Bill Dawes
Participant
@billdawes
I have been quite surprised that the new owners never got the Myford made in Far East, last time I saw a new Myford on display was at a ME exhibtition, the price made me gulp,about £13k if I remember correctly, not sure what model though. Fanatical following or not it's demise was inevitable at those sort of prices.

Bill D.
3 July 2023 at 22:13 #650945
bernard towers
Participant
@bernardtowers37738
I wonder if you will still be able to buy spares /accessories etc for a Far Eastern product that is 70 years young and will it still be useable? At the moment the proof is the premium that brands like Myford ,Boxford and Colchester etc still command.
4 July 2023 at 06:13 #650953
Chris Crew
Participant
@chriscrew66644
Posted by bernard towers on 03/07/2023 22:13:23:

I wonder if you will still be able to buy spares /accessories etc for a Far Eastern product that is 70 years young and will it still be useable? At the moment the proof is the premium that brands like Myford ,Boxford and Colchester etc still command.

If we think about it, firms such as Warco have been with us since the mid-1970's which is only 22years behind the introduction of the Super7. I have never owned a Warco machine or have any knowledge of the availability of spares and technical support provided by the company but they look pretty good to me for the price and have been with us for nearly fifty-years. Perhaps the best tribute to Myford is in the fact that the company, in both its guises, has lasted so long after facing such competition. Boxford ceased production of its non-CNC lathes in 1988, I believe, and I understand Colchester began rebadging Taiwanese machines. There must still be a market for Myford machines otherwise production would have ceased completely, but apart from the introduction of the incongruous 'Big Bore' it remains the same design.
4 July 2023 at 07:02 #650956
Michael Gilligan
Participant
@michaelgilligan61133
Posted by Bill Dawes on 03/07/2023 22:01:41:

I have been quite surprised that the new owners never got the Myford made in Far East […]

.

Perhaps this would be a good time to invite the new owners to contribute a short essay to the magazine

… Not expecting them to disclose any commercially sensitive information, but just a few words about the philosophy behind their bold purchase, and how they have managed to ‘save’ this great product.

MichaelG.
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