The Smart & Brown model A has MT2 in the tailstock and there are times when I wish it was at least MT3. When the museum was left a Tom Senior light vertical in a will, I was in the fortunate position, having a lathe and mill, to convert the spindle from MT2 to R8 when it was refurbished. That Clarkson ring to stiffen it was deemed important as that size can hold 5/8" and 16mm shank cutters, and some of mine are 20mm diameter.