Anyone bought a new Myford

[Ian HewsonParticipant @ianhewson99641]

Wouldn’t change my refurbished by Myford 254s, lot of wi**y waving goes on about myfords.

[not done it yetParticipant @notdoneityet]

IH,

I suspect the 254 was developed as an improved Raglan 5”, after they bought out Raglan and closed them down.

While there are areas which are an improvement over the 5”, the concept doesn’t seem to have moved on that far.

I would certainly not downgrade my 5”, to a lesser myford. Yes, it may need a little more space, but the plusses are considerable, so I can fully understand your attachment to your later myford design.

[HopperParticipant @hopper]

I have a used Myford that I refurbished to as-new condition. It's a good little lathe but nothing fantastic. At the 300 Quid or so I have invested in it, it's good value. No way I would pay 8,000 quid for one.

It has to be remembered that the main reason Myfords became the model engineer's standard lathe from the 1940s through to the 1980s was price and value for money, rather than highest level quality. They were cheap to buy, cheaper than the preceding Myford/Drummond M-type, cheaper than the Raglan, or Boxford, or South Bend and its many clones. They were good useable quality at the price, but no Rolls Royce. More the Morris Minor of lathes really. Good value for the masses.

I wonder how much a brand new Morris Minor would sell for these days?

And would it be any better to drive in modern traffic than the 1950s models?

Edited By Hopper on 27/11/2018 02:11:47

[Peter Simpson 1Participant @petersimpson1]

I have two lathes.

1, A used Myford S7 which has power cross feed.

2, A used Boxford ME 10 with power cross feed and a rare clutch, it is the actual one shown on Tony's lathes.co.uks site.

Both are well built machines with similar specs. I don't know why but prefer to use the Myford in preference to the Boxford even though the Boxford has a bigger spindle bore 3MT and better ways.

I would assume if I put both up fore sale the Myford would sell quicker and for more money.

[Phil PParticipant @philp]

Posted by Hopper on 27/11/2018 02:10:33:

I wonder how much a brand new Morris Minor would sell for these days?

And would it be any better to drive in modern traffic than the 1950s models?

A fully restored mint condition Morris Minor Traveller is currently for sale by a dealer on the internet for £36000, it has not been upgraded in any way so it will drive exactly as it would have done when new.

I paid less than a quarter of that price for mine which has also been restored, but it was done by the previous owner.

Mine has the luxury of upgraded brakes with a servo and discs on the front, along with telescopic dampers, alternator, electronic ignition, LED lights & seat belts etc. I am sure that makes it a nicer and safer drive than a standard car would be and those modifications are not intrusive to the character of the car.

I also have a Myford Super 7 with just about every attachment available that my dad bought as a retirement present to himself in the mid 1980's.

It suits my purposes very well indeed but then I also have a Harrison L5A for the bigger stuff and a Pultra 1770 for the smaller stuff and a Boley watchmakers lathe for the really small stuff.

Would I miss the Myford ?, well yes of course.

Would I go buy a new one tomorrow ?, I doubt it.

Phil

[Brian AbbottParticipant @brianabbott67793]

Thanks all for the reply’s, but all I really wanted to know was if anyone could offer a review on a newly built Myford, not planning on buying one as I am very happy with my 1960’s super 7, just interested to know how they are getting on.

Thanks.

[Mike PooleParticipant @mikepoole82104]

I noticed George Daniels the watchmaking legend had a Myford in his workshop.

Mike

[John HaineParticipant @johnhaine32865]

Well I hope my comments are useful Brian. Assuming that the latest "new" versions are the same as from the old Myford I think they will slowly fade away with the mystique.

[HopperParticipant @hopper]

Don't recall any members here saying they had bought a new Myford in recent times. An American member on another forum I lurk on had a new Myford. Said it was wonderful ( he called it a "toolroom lathe".) But he had it up for sale because it no longer suited his needs or whatever.

Other than that,  the 8k pricetag seems to keep most mere mortals away. There may be more takers on the 2.5k reconditioned units.

 

 

Edited By Hopper on 27/11/2018 09:58:23

[Martin KyteParticipant @martinkyte99762]

Brian

The last chat I had with the lads on the Myford stand at the Midlands show they said they were selling 1 or 2 connoisseurs a week and they are built from scratch. Personally I'm not sure I would buy a new one but I did buy a referb for the following reasons.

All my kit is based on the Myford.

I had a old one to trade in.

I wanted to upgrade to power cross feed and gearbox

It suits clockmaking and can do all I need it to regarding steam models.

regards Martin

[Brian AbbottParticipant @brianabbott67793]

Hello all.

John, yes they were, thank you.

I think what I was trying to get at but not very well is this.

I’m going to assume that new Myfords are made from new parts not old stock, this being the case are the new parts to the same standard, or better maybe than they were back in the day.

[Roger Williams 2Participant @rogerwilliams2]

Hello all, my 2 cents worth….I owned an ML7 for about 35yrs and for a brief time whilst I refurbished it , a Super 7. Out of the 2, the ML7 was better because of a Trilever attachment I fitted to it. In my opinion, the best speed change facility on a lathe Ive ever seen, even better than my HLVH ( just sold). A grossly under rated facility.

Is a new Myford worth £9000 ?, well, I sold my Hardinge for just under £3500, which again in my view, is in a different league altogether, but crap for model making, and for what the Myfords are best suited for. Horses for courses. Value wise, the Myford is grossly over priced.

[not done it yetParticipant @notdoneityet]

I think there might not be anyone, on here, that would own up to paying out 10 grand for a lowly myford lathe!

That is if there is actually anyone on the forum that would go out and spend their money that way. I would guess that any such owners/reviewers would have bought their lathe before joining the forum.

[Cornish JackParticipant @cornishjack]

"Out of the 2, the ML7 was better because of a Trilever attachment I fitted to it. In my opinion, the best speed change facility on a lathe Ive ever seen,"

+1 for that, and of course, the ability to use it as a spindle lock

rgds

Bill

[ronan walshParticipant @ronanwalsh98054]

Posted by pa4c pa4c on 26/11/2018 19:29:47:

I have never met anyone who regrets buying a Colchester or a Harrison.

Well you have met me now. I took a colchester home from work, and regret taking it for free ! Another grossly overrated brand, like landrover, barbour etc. Trading on a history of a name, when their products are often middle of the road at best, and downright junk at worst.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

There's nothing wrong with Myford lathes.

My feeling is that for most Myford owners it's the joy of ownership that matters.

No different to having a Jag when a Mondeo would do the same job

Neil

[Former MemberParticipant @formermember19781]

[This posting has been removed]

[David Standing 1Participant @davidstanding1]

Posted by not done it yet on 27/11/2018 10:37:26:

I think there might not be anyone, on here, that would own up to paying out 10 grand for a lowly myford lathe!

That is if there is actually anyone on the forum that would go out and spend their money that way. I would guess that any such owners/reviewers would have bought their lathe before joining the forum.

Not me, but then I only paid £1,450 last year for this lowly Myford

[not done it yetParticipant @notdoneityet]

I would put that in the ‘less lowly’ category. Has many of the attributes of the Raglan lathes!

OP was asking about new myfords – I wasn’t expecting anyone to review their new myford of fifty years ago, just these ‘new’ ones on the market at the present time.

[Ian HewsonParticipant @ianhewson99641]

Some people have all the luck David 🤢

[Mick B1Participant @mickb1]

Posted by Ian Hewson on 27/11/2018 22:10:17:

Some people have all the luck David 🤢

…and some know that what comes out yer shed is one hundred times as important as whatcher got in there…

[David Standing 1Participant @davidstanding1]

Posted by Ian Hewson on 27/11/2018 22:10:17:

Some people have all the luck David 🤢

Just gotta keep your eyes and ears open, and be prepared to travel

[Chris TriceParticipant @christrice43267]

The original question was clearly asking what the quality of new Myfords was like. The ones I've seen and played with strike me as every bit as good as they've always been.

[Ian HewsonParticipant @ianhewson99641]

What’s that got to do with getting a bargain Mick?🤔

[thaiguzziParticipant @thaiguzzi]

Posted by ronan walsh on 27/11/2018 15:53:40:

Posted by pa4c pa4c on 26/11/2018 19:29:47:

I have never met anyone who regrets buying a Colchester or a Harrison.

Well you have met me now. I took a colchester home from work, and regret taking it for free ! Another grossly overrated brand, like landrover, barbour etc. Trading on a history of a name, when their products are often middle of the road at best, and downright junk at worst.

WASH YOUR MOUTH out with a bar of soap & water!!!

[Author]

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