Myford Dixon-type toolholders: different dimensions?

[ChrisLHParticipant @chrislh]

Whilst on the subject of QCTH I am fortunate in that all my toolholders are marked with a “W” and fit perfectly on the toolpost as far as I can tell. The outside surfaces are all ground to a fine finish but not ground on the bit that matters – the shelf on which the tool sits; not easy to measure by how much but inclined outwards by a degree or so is my guess. Not much clearance left on the side of a parting tool. Purchased from the Myford stand 20 years ago. Are they all like this ?

[John PurdyParticipant @johnpurdy78347]

Michael

As I said in my previous post here, I bought 3 from the current Myford about a year ago. The two standard ones, although they fit the dovetails on the tool post perfectly and lock OK the lip that the plunger pulls on to lock it in place is .010″ thicker than my original Myford ones. As a result it doesn’t take nearly as much movement of the locking wrench to lock them in. The extended  nose one is identical in all respects to the original Myford ones and lock with the same movement of the wrench as they do. It is also marked with a “W”. Interestingly none of my original six Myford ones bought from Myford in the very early ’80s are marked with a “W”. The other differences, as I said earlier, is that the new normal ones won’t allow a 3/8″ tool bit to be set to lathe centre height, being about .020″ high, which makes them unsuitable for inserted tip tool bits without modifying either the holder or the tool bit. Currently they only get used for home ground HSS bits.

On a slightly different topic, my tool post is labeled “British Made” “Dickson” “Farnham Surrey” and is etched S.00 LB. All the Myford literature I have from the ’70s and ’80s list it as a “Dickson” quick change tool system. Others here are calling it a “Dixon”. Is one the original and one a copy? Which is which?

John

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Thanks for the detailed reply, John [although my question did relate specifically to Jason’s recent demonstration, and what he deduced from it]

Your closing paragraph is particularly important, I think, and goes a long way towards us being able to dispel some “internet myths” …

Quote:

On a slightly different topic, my tool post is labeled “British Made” “Dickson” “Farnham Surrey” and is etched S.00 LB. All the Myford literature I have from the ’70s and ’80s list it as a “Dickson” quick change tool system. Others here are calling it a “Dixon”. Is one the original and one a copy? Which is which?

 

As for the use of ‘Dixon’ … I can only suggest two possibilities:

1. it is a stupid error, or
2. it is an intentional deception

MichaelG.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Hopefully, this potted-history will prove to be reasonably accurate:

http://www.vintagemachinery.org/mfgindex/detail.aspx?id=12076

MichaelG.

.

Edit: __ and, as if by magic:

https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/00673237/filing-history

 

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Interesting as I was under the impression the W came from Weston Engineering (Not Wessex as I said earlier)

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

2015 leaflet  [metric sizes] here:

http://www.vintagemachinery.org/mfgindex/detail.aspx?id=12076&tab=3

 

MichaelG.

[Chris KaminskiParticipant @chriskaminski64716]

Claims that something is “Myford size” are mostly utter nonsense (unless you find genuine originals).

I have mostly Bison holders (details below), and original Dickson seem to fit fine as well.

As for all the other offerings (from the model engineering trade as well as ebay),

they can also be made usable providing you are willing to modify them.

Carbide cutters make it easy on my milling machine.

Some are easier to modify than others…

 

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