Hood
I am obsessed.
- Messages
- 16,928
- Location
- Carnoustie, Scotland
The internals of the Round Head and Square Head headstocks are virtually identical - I've owned several of both and they are stout reliable machines. Currently I have a Master 2500 which of course has the advantage of the 2500 max rpms, and it also is a good solid reliable machine.
The Masters and Students were never intended as ultra precision, but is good condition they ARE accurate (in the right hands). The trouble is people knocking them often have acquired one that's been abused and neglected and are expecting Hardinge precision. I've rebuilt three Students, and one was quite a journey having been bought as a literal basket case in bits - all had their beds reground and saddles built up with Turcite and ended up nice machines to use. The Colchesters do tend to have noisy headstocks as the gears are straight cut.
Remember, many of these machines date from the early 1960's - how many of your modern Chinese or even Taiwanese lathes are going to be still in use almost 60 years later?
"stout reliable machines" is not exactly what I would call them, middle of the road, light built but usable is more how I would describe but hey everyone sees things differently. To me they are like Brigdeports, they get a name that far surpasses their qualities and abilities.
The noise I am talking about is nothing to do with straight cut gears but from worn/damaged gearing. I have never seen a Mk1/1.5/2 with the extreme noise I am talking about but I have seen many of the later series with it.
The Student I had and the one my stepfather still has, came from Aberdeen Uni, they were both Mk1.5's supplied to the Uni in October 1967 and were nice lathes for what they were and were far better quality than the Triumph 2000 I have now.
You ask how many Chinese lathes will be around in 60 years, that to me is not what you should be asking as they are low end machines built, usually, to a low standard. Much better to ask how many European or Japanese lathes will be around in 60 years time.