Back to roots?

Hi to all members.

My name is Ray Ganderton and I live in Bedfordshire. It is quite possible that you have seen my surname before, attached to Richard (Dick). We are cousins and Dick is well known for his association with model railways.

My natural bias is mechanical engineering although I spent all of my adult career in electronics. My very recent return to lathe ownership came about by a 'very strong desire' rather than any 'need'. I have an old Jaguar and during recent tinkering I began to think a lathe just might come in handy. During my search for something appropriate, it became obvious that the 9" 'hobbyist' lathe market was virtually dominated by Myford. My previous association with lathes, however, was confined (excluding school Boxfords), to just one - A Smart & Brown 'Sabel'

My father owned one in the early sixties and it was on this machine that I leaned how to 'turn'. It was sold in the mid '70's and many cherished memories went with it. My target, therefore, became the acquisition of an Identical machine.

They were far from plentiful but, by pure chance, I came across one on eBay.

After a brief viewing I just had to have it. I was driven, almost, purely by the memories that it invoked.

It is now installed in my garage and an immense source of pleasure. I will probably

never make full use of it but that doesn't matter!

Welcome along Ray. I am not a model maker my interests are motorcycles. You will find the lathe useful not only for your car but for other projects as well. When you have a lathe you get 100 friends, I regularly repair parts for a local football clubs ground keeping equipment as well as friends bike stuff.

And when you introduced yourself to the forum you gained about a thousand new friends !

Welcome to the forum , I'm sure that with your engineering and electronics background you will fit in very well and i look forward to your participation whether it be a question or an answer to a problem .

Ian