I was looking through a few old Model Engineering magazines that my father had in a cupboard dated 1985, looking at the prices for equipment looked similar to today. I noticed a 9×18 lathe £899 in 1985 and £1250 in 1990, I have the 9×20 which I think was £650 four years ago. I can see why at the time in the eighties that I was not interested in model engineering, one equipment was expensive to buy and I was working as a sheetmetal worker so was sick to death of anything to do with metal.My father had just retired so was spending a fair bit of cash but not much in return,today I feel that this hobby with a few thousand pound outlay is a very good pastime for a retired person.
Bob