Smart and Brown model M Mk1

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

Do you think you'll live to see Christmas?

I've got a trump card. Sold my CAT and gennie I was given last month but never spent the money. Said I'd use it for tools. Didn't specify work tools.

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

Surprisingly straight for its age. ML3
Don't know if I'll keep this one or sell it yet.
Would rather have the room for a mill but I'll make a loss. Lesson learned.

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

First coat of primer. Drying as fast as I brushed it on so decided to coat it now and flatten it next week. Second coat of primer should go on better now its sealed. Bit of filling needed too.
Insides had a quick paint. Not worried about a fine finish. Just wanted to tidy it up.

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

Tractol primer and topcoat.
Goes on lovely. Fills small casting defects and leaves a nice smooth finish. Some bits I painted a few months back faired well. Takes a few weeks to fully harden and seems to be very resistant to oils ect.

@Parm my mistake. Primer tractol 816 topcoat Tekaloid 318.
Running low on primer and dug out the invoice to reorder.

 

[Hood]

Surprisingly straight for its age. ML3
Don't know if I'll keep this one or sell it yet.
Would rather have the room for a mill but I'll make a loss. Lesson learned.
View attachment 116914

That was my first lathe, well not that exact one but rather a Drummond M Type made before Myford took over their production. It was knackered but still did a lot of good work on it.

 

[Dieselman 63]

That was my first lathe, well not that exact one but rather a Drummond M Type made before Myford took over their production. It was knackered but still did a lot of good work on it.

View attachment 117027

I had the chance to buy something similar, a Grayson lathe. Trouble here is that old machinery is so thin on the ground that anything seems to command a premium. The resellers wanted $800 for the Grayson and the uni offered $500 for the Bantam, so I went with the latter. It's probably a bit advanced for me but I'll grow into it.

 

[Hood]

I had the chance to buy something similar, a Grayson lathe. Trouble here is that old machinery is so thin on the ground that anything seems to command a premium. The resellers wanted $800 for the Grayson and the uni offered $500 for the Bantam, so I went with the latter. It's probably a bit advanced for me but I'll grow into it.

Bantam is a much handier lathe to have

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

That was my first lathe, well not that exact one but rather a Drummond M Type made before Myford took over their production. It was knackered but still did a lot of good work on it.

View attachment 117027

Shame myford cut down on manufacturing costs. Yours looks to have much better build quality. That said. Its got no wear to mention and runout is negligible. Sure I'll find a good home for it once it's been fettled.

The S&B has impressed me with build quality and design. Look forward to starting it up for the first time. Other than motor tests I haven't used it yet.

 

[Hood]

Shame myford cut down on manufacturing costs. Yours looks to have much better build quality. That said. Its got no wear to mention and runout is negligible. Sure I'll find a good home for it once it's been fettled.

The S&B has impressed me with build quality and design. Look forward to starting it up for the first time. Other than motor tests I haven't used it yet.

Not sure if yours is just a bare version or whether Myford did all of them that way, did however notice differences in the tailstock amongst other bits. Mine wasn't worn in the bed either, it was the screws and nuts that were knackered and also the dials no longer were legible.

Yes the S&B looks like it was well made, hopefully you get it up and running soon.

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

Dials would have been nice. None on mine. My understanding is the ml1/&ml3 were fixed headstock's and the 2 and 4 removable castings. Perhaps these models had better spec. I bought mine at a whim without knowing too much. Lesson learned and it taught me a bit about lathes in the process.
Did a bit more homework before buying this one. Powered crossfeed I can live without just wanted a solid machine. Given its age all the damage I've found is for the most superficial. Its been looked after by someone in its past. Must see if I can find out when it was refurmbed. It has a plaque stating S&B did so.

Its all downhill now other than the motor. Famous last words.

 

[Parm]

First coat of primer. Drying as fast as I brushed it on so decided to coat it now and flatten it next week. Second coat of primer should go on better now its sealed. Bit of filling needed too.
Insides had a quick paint. Not worried about a fine finish. Just wanted to tidy it up. View attachment 117009 View attachment 117010

Looking good

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

Result. Another missing part acquired.

Busy few weeks at work so no progress unfortunately.

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

Flattened filled primed twice more with a roller and put one top coat on with a roller. I'll brush the final coat. Should go on nicely now.

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

Chip tray primed and set in place temporarily.

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

Made some progress today. Cabinet has had a further 2 coats. Flattened in between. That's as far as I'm going. Don't have the time or Patience for a perfect finish. Gonna be covered in oil and swarf soon enough.

Doors prepped headstock lid just needs a light sand by hand. The headstock casting is on the way too. Need tonhet in with a scraper and chisel now.
Control box and bed still to go.
Adjustable feet should turn up tomorrow and I can get it back into position.

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

Wife's at slimming world with the baby. Kids are asleep. Might as well be productive.

Still a way to go yet. Garage is full of lathe bits ATM.

 

[Dieselman 63]

The lathe beats slimming world any day. All that cast iron to lift, proper workout!

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

Not going to have much time over the next few weeks. Hoping to get everything else stripped tomorrow so I can paint in dribs and drabs over the evenings. Seems the busier I get the more people want to wait for me to undertake work. Another 6 weeks ahead again and still waiting for the trigger to be pulled on a 5 bed renovation. Musnt grumble.

Feet finally arrived 2 days late. Cut them down to suit. Left it high temporarily but I'll set it as low as possible while remaining level before rebuilding. Seems stable but may end up self leveling a little raised plinth and bolting it down at a later date. Time will tell.

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

Managed to grab a couple of hours. Only the bed left to prep. Thought it best to prime the head up straight away.

 

[Dieselman 63]

Managed to grab a couple of hours. Only the bed left to prep. Thought it best to prime the head up straight away. View attachment 119605 View attachment 119609

Insides going back to red?