Cowells 90ME 14×1.5 backplate question

[Andy CarlsonParticipant @andycarlson18141]

Posted by Colin Heseltine on 05/02/2022 12:27:37:

Out of interest can anyone put approximate dates to serial numbers.

My Cowells is 1524.

Colin

Hi Colin,

Cowells have records for the more recent ones and should be able to give you an exact date if it's recent enough.

I'm not sure how far back their records go but they certainly don't have records for the earlier ones… which is kinda how I got started.

I have plenty of serial numbers and design variations… mostly by asking owners and vendors for serial numbers. I'm afraid that I have very few definite dates because the older ones are often on their second or third owner.

My guess would be around 1983/4 for yours but I have no dates for anything nearby so it really is not very reliable.

Edited By Andy Carlson on 05/02/2022 16:47:22

[HollowpointParticipant @hollowpoint]

You can almost date Cowells lathes by the paint colour. Late 70's appear to be silver, 80's turquoise and later models blue. The CW model being the exception as it seems to have always been silver.

[duncan webster 1Participant @duncanwebster1]

Well mine has no number stamped on the end of the bed, and it doesn't have Cowells cast either into bed or tailstock, so I reckon it must be a late Perris SL90, as it is otherwise indistinguishable from Cowells

[alan-lloydParticipant @alan-lloyd]

Going back to the various colours, does anybody know the correct paint colour or code for the current lathes, cowells would not tell me or send any paint, most helpful!!

[Andy CarlsonParticipant @andycarlson18141]

Posted by Hollowpoint on 05/02/2022 17:13:18:

You can almost date Cowells lathes by the paint colour. Late 70's appear to be silver, 80's turquoise and later models blue. The CW model being the exception as it seems to have always been silver.

I'd beg to differ slightly. The tourquose blue hammered paint was the earliest… and dates back into Perris days.

As far as I can gather the darker blue came in with the big cast base around 1980.

The silver 'ME' ones seem to have numbers in or near the 600 range. I think they were the last before the cast base was introduced.

Looking at photos there may be more than one type of dark blue – some I've seen seem to be perhaps metallic and/or hammered effect, others not so. It could be just the light in the photos though.

And yes, the CW was silver too… and so was the HS by the looks of the pics on Tony's site.

[Andy CarlsonParticipant @andycarlson18141]

Posted by alan-lloyd on 05/02/2022 20:47:02:

Going back to the various colours, does anybody know the correct paint colour or code for the current lathes, cowells would not tell me or send any paint, most helpful!!

This chap (at 2:10) says 'Hammerite Smooth Blue' – recommended by Cowells so he says.

I've no idea myself. I'd really like some turquoise blue hammered effect paint but I don't think that's going to happen.

[Richard BParticipant @richardb44403]

My Cowells dates back to the very early '80's (bought new from a small stockist – 'Allmodels Engineering Ltd' in Ruislip) and has the serial number 1093 – not sure they still exist, it has the cast aluminium base and is painted the current Cowells Blue.

I also have what I believe to be a Perris PL90 Standard – the dovetail bed is about 200mm long compared to the Cowells of approx 240mm. 1/2" x 20 UNF spindle, centre height as the Cowells – it came with the basic bolted top slide arrangement unlike the later models. The paint is a light turquoise of slightly differing shades. It also has a couple of faceplates – approx 87mm as Cowells and a larger 115mm painted a light blue probably off a later machine.

I think a lot of the older paint was probably the original 'Hammerite' made I think by 'Finnigans' (the Waxoyle originators) before they were bought up by bigger firms – the colours ISTR included softer shades such as these.

I have converted my Perris to serve as a tool grinder with a variable speed drive using a DC treadmill motor and speed conroller obtained off the 'Bay'.

[Andy CarlsonParticipant @andycarlson18141]

Posted by Richard B on 06/02/2022 17:23:22:

My Cowells dates back to the very early '80's (bought new from a small stockist – 'Allmodels Engineering Ltd' in Ruislip) and has the serial number 1093 – not sure they still exist, it has the cast aluminium base and is painted the current Cowells Blue.

Thanks Richard. Out of interest what is the wording and address (if any) on the plate that has the reversing switch? The progression of addresses is another variation over time.

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