Lathes as bling!

Unfortunately the same applies to music reproduction systems (gramophones). Some people listen to the music, others listen to the equipment. Both are valid hobbies.

I've not considered Excel lathes before, so after a quick Google I found a few vendors selling a 330x1000 single phase Excel lathe in the UK for just over £7000. Little bit bigger than a myford more suited to a bigger workshop or toolroom, but if you are in the market for a quality bit of kit what's not to like? I saw a Myford top of the range ML7 for sale at a model engineering show for 12 grand!!! I know which one I would buy!

Ian

Yes but must not confuse Japan with China. Japan design & build superb equipment.

Give them time. Japan started out making junk in the occupation years. Didn't take long.

And China already makes superb equipment, but it usually bears a label like BMW,

The posts above made me think about Taiwan's relationship with China! I never really considered Taiwan as being part of China, it always seemed to be a separate entity to me! I think China may have 'claimed' Taiwan as part of their PRC territory.

China has led the world at times in its history and is surely a contender to take the lead again. We have luckily been able to take advantage of China undercutting the rest of the world for manufactured goods, it is unlikely to last indefinitely as a competitor will appear and the workers will want paying properly for their labours. I expect we will be discussing the merits of Brazilian lathes against the wonderful Chinese ones of a few years ago.

Mike

Well they certainly have large investments all over the planet. Even maybe a finger in Aston martin.

Yes it's a matter of some contention, with the Taiwanese regarding themselves as separate and the Chinese building new islands and naval bases all around them getting ready to make their move. These days, who's going to stop them?

Unfortunately China are a bit like you know who adolf. Frightening.

It is rather nice. Perhaps Boxford could copy it (I doubt it).

A bit of reverse bling.

I took this photograph as an ordinary member of the public visiting a heritage railway workshop.

JA

Edited By JA on 18/01/2020 09:23:10

Depends on your point of view. Before WW2 Taiwan (Formosa) was part of China. When the Chinese Imperial Government collapsed in the early 1900's (arguably due to the bully boy tactics of the British, Americans, Germans, Japanese and other Western powers), China broke into multiple factions with many areas controlled by War Lords - power blocs not nations, mostly led by incompetent right-wing types. A deeply miserably time when famine, war, disease, and political instability overrode thousands of years of advanced civilisation.

After WW1, the Japanese expected to be rewarded for their role by being granted territory in China. This ambition was thwarted, leading eventually to a Japanese invasion of Korea and Western China, and the severe tensions with Western Powers that led to Pearl Harbour.

The War Lord problem & Japanese invasion resulted in the Chinese re-unifying under two main leaders - Mao Tse Tung (Communist) and Chang Kai-shek (Nationalist). Between 1945 and 1949 the two factions fought a bitter Civil War which ended by Chang Kai-shek retreating to Formosa, which he led as the Republic of China until 1975. Mao Tse Tung led the mainland as the People's Republic of China until his death in 1976. Both administrations consider themselves to be the legitimate government of China.

The part played by the West in Chinese History is not taught in British Schools, and most Brits are blissfully ignorant of the immense trouble in China caused a hundred plus years ago by Western powers (including Japan). Nor are they familiar with China's rejection of Russia and Russian communism, or the deep regional stresses during the Vietnam and other Wars, some of which are still active today. But the subject is taught in Chinese Schools, which is a worry because it leads to serious disrespect of the West and a sense of Paranoia.

I find it ironic that Brits get hot and bothered about the mythical 'China Export' mark, whilst the Chinese get hot and bothered about the sacking of the Imperial Palace in 1860, and again in 1910, after which the entire country collapsed into chaos...

China's industrial success impresses me greatly. The common assumption that China are struggling to catch up technically is dubious, for example Huawei are ahead of the Americans developing 5G technology, which discovery shook the USA last year. What the Chinese do with their new muscle is worrying : although the current regime is a curious mix of capitalist and communist ideas, it has ambitions and history that might tip it into serious conflict with the west. As might clumsy ignorant attitudes on our side. There's more to Foreign Policy than lapping up the Daily Mail or Guardian...

Dave

Nice to see it's been well looked after!

Tony

Dave

At school we are lied to and spend the rest of our lives messed up.

I strongly believe that history should not be tought to those under sixteen.

JA

Maybe English

Tony

Martin, I agree, and I am the idiot in question, but so what ?

Mike, we all know what happened to the English motor bikes, they never moved with the times, but the Japs did !

Tongue in cheek, hence the

Let China sleep, said Napoleon, for when she awakes the whole world will tremble.

You missed out the opium wars, which still aren't forgotten and are part of their mistrust of the UK.

Neil

My JAP engines were made in Prestwick! My Japanese engines were made by Honda.

By Prestwich in Tottenham, London (my play ground, bomb sites, as a kid)?

JA

Edited By JA on 18/01/2020 19:20:33

Edited By JA on 18/01/2020 19:21:34