THIEL DUPLEX universal machines or bridgeport series 1

I'm trying to find out some info about these machines...

I've seen a nice THIEL duplex 158 with the following:

Dividing head/vice/high speed head/slotting head/dividing head/boaring head/centre locator/dro.

How do they compare to a series 1 bridgeport? Anything particular to look for? Anyone have/use one? What sort of cash would the above package be worth?

Regards

I'll be making motorcycle parts, I'd like to build a few stationary and I/C engine's, Skim motorcycle heads.

Is it possible to get spares if needed still? I'm just waiting on more details, with all the parts/extras it should be able to do more than ever needed I guess? Also more than I can do too!

Jason did you purchase the machine? Im in a similar quandry

Theres one on ebay at the moment but it seems there is a requirement to make the spindle adapters which im informed make it unusable for the time needed to make or buy them

I've had my Thiel 158 for a number of years now, and am very pleased with it. I was lucky to get a torpedo vertical head for it, the only downside to which was that it has a MT5 socketr, whereas the horizontal spindle has a Thiel taper. I made up a number of MT5 blanks which have been converted into toolholding as required.

There's a bit of backlash in the X axis, but the DRO takes care of any positioning problems.

Dave
The Emerald Isle