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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
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    Melbourne
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    34
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    1,075

    Default Colchester marketing video

    Came across this and thought people would enjoy it. The sub-micron tolerances on the spindle bearings is impressive enough by today's standards, but the fact that they were doing that in the 50s is incredible . Probably explains why our 50+ year old Mk. 1 Bantam is still happy running 1600 rpm all day.


  2. #2
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
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    South Australia
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    Default

    Can you imagine some one dressed in a suit and tie coming out to service your lathe these days

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Location
    Darkest NSW
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    42

    Default

    A very interesting and entertaining trip down memory lane - thanks for posting !

    I grew up in the "old country", and even spent 3 years at Uni in Colchester many years ago. Apart from lathes, the place doesn't have much to recommend it .

    Guy in flat cap: "Chuffin 'eck, there's trouble down at t' lathe.". The service guy was lucky to have survived driving around in a Thames van - absolute death traps.

    Cheers

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Location
    York, North Yorkshire UK
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    6,439

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by China View Post
    Can you imagine some one dressed in a suit and tie coming out to service your lathe these days
    Yes ! I wore a suit and tie right up to retiring !

    I did have a dust coat and coveralls to use as needed. I've no idea where the coveralls went, but I still wear the dust coats now and again. Of course in the British climate the cotton soon absorbs the damp so I used to keep them in a large plastic box.
    Best Regards:
    Baron J.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Apr 2012
    Location
    Healesville
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    2,129

    Default

    The James Bond movie Goldfinger must have come out about the same time as this vid was made....

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Aug 2019
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    Revesby - Sydney Australia
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    56
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    1,183

    Default Memorable quotes from the film

    17:34 Colchester lathes are fitted with Gamay taper roller bearings - the most accurate bearings in the world!


    22:25 Threads can be cut at speeds of up to five times faster than normal, with the Ainjest rapid threading unit. It will thread tight to a shoulder at maximum speed. Blind bores need no undercut. Its impossible to engage the half-nut in the wrong position.



    I like the taper turning attachment (around 21:30). A nice solid block.

    And, the capstan attachment.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    near Warragul, Victoria
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    3,718

    Default Nice

    The thing is, by the time we get hold of one , it has suffered from 40+ years of abuse , lack of maintenance and general wear.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Location
    York, North Yorkshire UK
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    Default

    Hi Guys,

    Did anybody notice the number of operations done from the rear toolpost ?
    Best Regards:
    Baron J.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Apr 2018
    Location
    Drouin Vic
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    633

    Default

    I saw a post on another forum, can't remember where, from someone who saw the casting patterns from this and other factories being loaded onto a bonfire in a field near the town, I think in the 1980s, by a front end loader. What a crying shame.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Location
    York, North Yorkshire UK
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    6,439

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Pete O View Post
    I saw a post on another forum, can't remember where, from someone who saw the casting patterns from this and other factories being loaded onto a bonfire in a field near the town, I think in the 1980s, by a front end loader. What a crying shame.
    Hi Guys,

    A similar thing happened with all the patterns when Lightowler Foundry closed down.

    They made a lot of Items for the mining and railway industries. Later they went on to produce castings for machine tools both for themselves and for various machine tool manufactures. I used to have a Few of their finished products, most of which I've sold, including a No:3 Fly press and a 10 inch rotary table. I still have one of their 6" inch angle plates and a couple of "V" blocks.

    As a child I remember that there were at least six other foundries within walking distance.
    Best Regards:
    Baron J.

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