Parts/material costs

The drive belt on my ML7 just gave out and I needed a replacement PDQ, so off to the local bearing etc stockist for a replacement, knock me down with a feather and the cost was £10 (minimum cash charge, two were £19.72, national supplier), onto the next (local only) and it was £7.50 which I paid thru gritted teeth. No wonder engineering in this land is dieing out if that's the charge for what was a thirty bob drive belt. Should've put one on the shelf from one of the usual suspects, just in case, as they're around 50% cheaper. Same with a piece of 1/4 x 2 1/4 GFS, £17 local supplier, only slightly cheaper than MSC who aint the cheapest but they do deliver. Even used parts for Myfords are rocketing, we've started to refer to it here as Myford fever, think sellers think they've got gold on their hands, will look elsewhere for another lathe when the time comes. Costs are ridiculous.

Hate to upset you, but your 30-bob belt on decimalisation in 1971 would now cost £18.52 if things had kept up with inflation, so it's actually half the price!

Neil

None of these any good then? **LINK** just from a quick look on the web.

Lofty, needed it now so had to go elsewhere, know about that guy, he must be making a profit at that price so it really re-inforces what I was saying about many/most engineering suppliers and their charges.

Neil, 30 bob in 1971 no doubt equates to the figure you've given, but I bought a drive belt for a ML7R (longer than ML7 ?) 2 years ago for less than 3 quid but had to wait 2 days for it to come but I needed one now. There are less and less suppliers making their margins from less and less users so it's a Catch 22 situation, they force many people/businesses to just pack it in. I use 30 bob to describe things that I believe are overpriced so not figurative, throwback to my youth.

I figured it was a throwaway comment, but I couldn't resist

Neil

Neil. You piqued my interest so started to look around the web now I've finished the job on the lathe. In fact there is one listed on Bearing shop at £1.45, that's less than 30 bob for any youngsters out there LoL . Might order the rest of the belts on both lathes from them and put them on the shelf now I can wait.