Holbrook lathe on Ebay

[Andrew TinsleyParticipant @andrewtinsley63637]

[Andrew TinsleyParticipant @andrewtinsley63637]

Currently, there is a combined item on Ebay entitled "Lathe and milling machine". The lathe appears to be a Holbrook, at least that is what is emblazoned on the front! It appears to be a very modern lathe, quite unlike any Holbrook that I have seen. Lathes UK doesn't list it, so I am at a loss. Could it be a badge engineered import? It looks too good for that!

Anyone know what it is?

Andrew.

[Tony Pratt 1Participant @tonypratt1]

From another thread it’s a Holbrook 10b.

Tony

[john halfpennyParticipant @johnhalfpenny52803]

No mystery – it says it's a 10B in the description

[Andrew TinsleyParticipant @andrewtinsley63637]

I know that the lathe is styled as a 10B, but from Lathes UK site, there doesn't appear to be such an animal. The styling of the lathe is nothing like any Holbrook lathe I have come across.

So come on you Holbrook experts, have you any information on the Holbrook 10B? I suspect that it is a rebadged import lathe, looks far too modern to be a genuine Holbrook design. But happy to be proved wrong.

Andrew.

[BikepeteParticipant @bikepete]

See here: https://www.model-engineer.co.uk/forums/postings.asp?th=125235&p=1

Edited By Bikepete on 28/10/2021 13:43:10

[Andrew TinsleyParticipant @andrewtinsley63637]

Thanks Bikepete,

Your link explains everything. So it was an early 80's design by a Holbrook gent (who was working for Herbert). That explains the non Holbrook appearance.

It was manufactured in India, so was in fact an imported lathe.

Andrew.

[Tony Pratt 1Participant @tonypratt1]

It's called 'badge engineering', I think every western manufacturer is doing it

Tony

[Oily RagParticipant @oilyrag]

Alfred Herberts' had an Indian based subsidiary which made the older Herbert machines for sale in India and the Asian sub-continent. It was overseen by AH employees who went out there to maintain standards and quality. My understanding of the operation, when I was an AH employee, was that it was considered to be a 'Jewel in the Crown' operation which produced high quality machines. I would expect that any machine made there, whether badged as Herbert, Holbrook, Edgwick, or Attritor (a unique pulveriser!), would be the equal of any made in the Edgwick works in Coventry.

Herberts had numerous subsidiaries based all around the world. From memory there were factories in Brazil, Australia, and India. Employee's were often seconded to these far away 'stations' to work for a number of years, I had a fellow ex-apprentice who was seconded to Brazil for a 3 year contract – he went 'native' whilst out there, married a Brazilian and never returned! Happy days!!

Martin

[Andrew TinsleyParticipant @andrewtinsley63637]

Hi Tony,

If you look at the original post, you will see that I surmised it might be badge engineered product.

Andrew.

[Tony Pratt 1Participant @tonypratt1]

Posted by Andrew Tinsley on 28/10/2021 16:55:31:

Hi Tony,

If you look at the original post, you will see that I surmised it might be badge engineered product.

Andrew.

Sorry Andrew I missed that bit.

Tony

[RRMBKParticipant @rrmbk]

Cracking lathe, had mine ten years or more now. and like mine the one advertised appears to have most of the original accessories , taper turning attachment , steadies, vertical slide etc. Badge engineered yes, but poor quality- most certainly not!

[RRMBKParticipant @rrmbk]

If you look through back copies of ME in the mid 80's you will find adverts for these lathes. They were not cheap even then and I believe very few were actually ever sold. Mine is serial no 18, I know of ser no 24 and I have e.mailed the seller to see if he will let me know the serial no of this one.

[Author]

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