For lathes ring colchester

[Maker]

Could someone shed some light on this please.

It says around the top "For lathes ring Colchester 5161"
As far as I know they were produced by Colchester on a CNC lathe to commemorate the release of the new Chipmaster with capstan turret. The ring is really nice.
Dad bought it off eBay for £3, bargin.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Could 'Colchester 5161' be the Company's phone number from the days prior to STD?

Is that piece solid?

 

[AndyStobbs]

bound to be a phone number, we still say 'Chester 123456', everyone here just knows the area code is 01244 for Chester.

 

[Maker]

Is that piece solid?

No, not solid, it's an actual working bell.

 

[rtbcomp]

In 1939,41 their phone number was Colchester 2132, 1959 = 6351,

1969 = Colchester Lathe Company Ltd., Hythe, Colchester 5161
British Phone Books
1960-1984
1969
Colchester Jul

 

[Maker]

In 1939,41 their phone number was Colchester 2132, 1959 = 6351,

1969 = Colchester Lathe Company Ltd., Hythe, Colchester 5161
British Phone Books
1960-1984
1969
Colchester Jul

So it was made in 1969 then?

 

[Rig Pig]

Please don't tell me you collect old phone books! I thought I was bad at hoarding!!

 

[rtbcomp]

So it was made in 1969 then?

Around then, I suppose I could narrow it down.

Please don't tell me you collect old phone books! I thought I was bad at hoarding!!

The phone book collection from 1880 to 1984 is on line courtesy of Ancestry.co.uk

 

[Anguz]

riveting bedtime reading :-)

 

[rtbcomp]

The plot's not up to much, but the cast's enormous.

 

[Kayos]

Just like reading the dictionary; the zebra did it

 

[SmartWerks]

The plot's not up to much, but the cast's enormous.

And at the end a load of Poles turn up!

 

[rkx1984]

I have one too!

My grandfather visited Colchester Lathes when he was an apprentice at Vauxhall in Luton, UK around 1956. He was 87 last week. I ran this bell as a boy (I'm now 37) and now my kids are ringing this bell tonight with him (6 and 8).

 

[Tigman]

riveting bedtime reading :-)

Beats counting sheep !

 

[Agroshield]

As far as I know they were produced by Colchester on a CNC lathe to commemorate the release of the new Chipmaster with capstan turret.

Yes, I know I am replying to something from 2014...

But look at 1:00 onwards below and you can see the bell that was hiding in the brass. Not CNC but Hepworth hydraulic copier.

The first tool going in from the turret is a form tool shaping the inside of the bell. The second drills the hole for the clapper. The third tool is like a revolving centre, supporting the stock while the outside is shaped. The fourth tool is actually inserting the dinger.

 

[pressbrake1]

I was about to post it was made to demonstrate the hydraulic copier

 

[Maker]

I think that 4th capstan tool simultaneously inserts the clapper and swages the hole over to retain it. Very clever design, I wonder how many people would come up with that today? I'd probably have done some circlip or threaded rubbish that takes 10 times as long and doesn't look nearly as tidy.

I know it's only brass but that OD profile in one go was very impressive, bloody good lathes are Chipmasters.

 

[pressbrake1]

Some say the chip master was the only good lathe they made

 

[Agroshield]

I think that 4th capstan tool simultaneously inserts the clapper and swages the hole over to retain it

Maybe. Looking at the picture of rcx1984's bell end above, could it be a ringpiece that is smaller in dia. than the ball at the top of the clapper which is then just a press fit in the hole? As you have one too, give your dinger a good tug and see what happens.

 

[Maker]

If the ball was a press fit it would be too stiff to dangle.