Holbrook Lathe Information Please

[martyn nutlandParticipant @martynnutland79495]

To help revive a Holbrook with TLC

[martyn nutlandParticipant @martynnutland79495]

A bit like the man with a sore back who encounters a doctor at a Christmas party and says: 'it's not for myself I ask…'; it's not for myself I ask this question!

But my friend Gerard has just bought a Holbrook lathe. These vintage machine tools appeal to him and he already has a Melhuish under restoration. He would like to know the age of the Holbrook (picture attached) and, if possible, the model. Can anyone help?

He is also puzzled by a circular device at the headstock end that 'seems to be graduated in degrees' and that the vendor told him 'he needn't bother with'! I think this must be to do with Holbrook's rather individual change speed mechanism, but don't really know. Is anyone better informed?

Finally, as an aside, members might be interested to know that for a time, circa 1920, Holbrook's chief engineer was Leonard Lord, later that doyen of the British motor industry who gave us both the Morris Eight and the original Mini. The story is covered in my biography of Lord. Details on my website martynlnutland.com. Take a look.

All the best.

Martyn

[Ady1Participant @ady1]

Holbrook precision lathes seem to have been eclipsed by their chunky brethren over the decades

Universities and cinemas appear to have been major customers

Holbrook article

[VicParticipant @vic]

I can't help but would just like to say that's a lovely looking little Lathe!

[Pat BraveryParticipant @patbravery]

I am trying to get information on a Holbrook lathe, on the brass speed data plate is Model SC2, I can find no reference to that model on either the Holbrook website or 'lathes.uk' site. The lathe is a gap bed type and I am afraid that the photo's are not the best in the world but hopefully someone might recognise it. Thanks for looking, Pat

[vic neweyParticipant @vicnewey60017]

There is a Holbrook lathe Yahoo group, you will get plenty of help there, joining is easy,

[egaParticipant @ega]

Posted by Ady1 on 19/12/2015 11:31:22:

Holbrook precision lathes seem to have been eclipsed by their chunky brethren over the decades

Universities and cinemas appear to have been major customers

Holbrook article

Thanks for this interesting article. It was a relief to learn that the toddler shown as part of the staff in 1872 was apparently not actually employed in the works!

This was from a series of article and I wonder whether the Willson ("We make nowt but lathes&quot concern was covered?

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