Clarkson Mark 1 Tool and Cutter Grinder - This is Gallery 1

BOTTOM HOME

There are more pictures in Gallery 1 - (oldest)
There are more pictures in Gallery 2 - 2009
There are more pictures in Gallery 3 - 2010
There are more pictures in Gallery 4 - 2011
There are more pictures in Gallery 5 - 2012
There are more pictures in Gallery 6 - 2013
There are more pictures in Gallery 7 - 2014
There are more pictures in Gallery 8 - 2015
There are more pictures in Gallery 9 -2016 (latest)
/a>

CONTENTS OF THIS PAGE (dd-mm-yy) - GALLERY 1 (oldest)
Nameplates	Tool Grinding Forum	10-10-07 Thrupp	Machine Spare - supply Clarkson spares etc
Machine Manufacture Date	metalworking.piczo.com	Barry Jordan
Serial Numbers - Excel Workbook	oldengine.org	lathes.co.uk

TOP

NAMEPLATES

There are differences in the name plates on the old and new machines.

The name plates can bear a variety of company names :

... earlier machines are marked "CLARKSON (ENGINEERS) LIMITED".
... later machines are marked "Clarkson International Tools Limited".
... some recent machines are marked "CLARKSON MACHINE TOOLS" (see gallery 2).
... some recent machines are marked "March" (see Lot 186 below).

The 12 x 6 is also shown in metric on the newer machines.
The horizontal line either side of 'CLARKSON' is not present on the newer nameplates.
The word Clarkson is in lower case on the Clarkson International Tools Ltd nameplates.
The word Clarkson is in lower case on the Clarkson Machine Tools name plates.

↓ Nameplate - CLARKSON (ENGINEERS) LIMITED
missing image

↓ Nameplate - Clarkson International Tools Limited
missing image

↓ Nameplate - CLARKSON MACHINE TOOLS
missing image

↓ Nameplate - MARCH (sorry for the poor quality)
missing image

↓ Nameplate - DEVLIEG MICROBORE - The Clarksons are Devlieg in the USA.
missing image

TOP

These bits of information may help date your machine:

A reference to a lawsuit case "Clarkson International Tools Ltd v Short" looks to be dated February 1973.
An article in The Edinburgh Gazette mentions the name 'Clarkson International Tools Ltd' on 16th March 1973.
If your machine nameplate has Clarkson (Engineers) Ltd on it then it is earlier than 1973.
adendum: I have since come across a 1971 Operators Handbook that has the 'Clarkson International Tools Limited' company name printed on the inside. If your machine nameplate has Clarkson (Engineers) Ltd then it is sometime earlier than 1971.

The Handbooks dated April 1962 3rd Edition, March 1966 4th Edition, and March 1971 6th Edition, show a few pictures of some Clarksons with their serial numbers, namely 295 and 1500. So if your serial number is lower than 1500 then it was made before April 1962. If your machine is 295 or 1500 then it is famous as it is in the Operators Handbooks.
All this logic could be flawed if Clarkson have not issued the machines with consequetive serial numbers.

The "Clarkson Machine Tool" company was incorporated in 1991. So, at a rough guess, any machines bearing the name "Clarkson Machine Tools" were made/sold after 1991.

TOP

The machine Serial Numbers are logged in an Excel Workbook.

CLARKSON (ENGINEERS) LTD became Clarkson International Tools Limited at around serial number 11645 to 11672

clarkson-serial-numbers.xls

TOP

↓ This nicely modified Clarkson belongs to Bernie on the Tool Grinding forum.
Serial Number = 13014
This has a modified motor bracket to relocate the motor, a new height adjusting screw with graduated dial and thrust races, a taper pin to align the swivel table, taper pins to align the spindle head (if dismantled), and a paint job.
The new motor position makes the machine more compact.
missing image

↓ Two additional taper pins used to accurately position the spindle housing.
missing image

↓ Taper reaming the Spindle housing to make sure it goes back and stays aligned in the horizontal position.
missing image

↓ Here a taper pin is used to align the table at 90 to the spindle axis.
missing image

↓ A very interesting picture of the dismantled castings.
These have had their rough cast surfaces and moulding sand cleaned out and hand ground to allow full movement of the new stud and height screw assembly. missing image

↓ Serial number = 13014
missing image

↓ A box of goodies.
missing image

↓ A nice view of the radius attachment.
missing image

↓ The old and new height adjusting screws for raising and lowering the head.
Note the cad drawing.
The new top assembly incorporates 2 1/2" thrust races dust sealed, and a graduated dial.
The new assembly thread is M16 x 1.75 to get 125 thous on the graduated dial to correspond with the actual head movement.
My favourite picture. Very nice.
missing image

TOP

↓ This Clarkson belongs to BillyBobs60 on metalworking.piczo.com.
He's done a few mods and repairs. Looks like the table has been reground\milled\polished and he's added a graduated dial (and maybe a new feed screw and nut?).
click here to see the source
missing image

TOP

↓ This one was given to a group of model engineers.
It has the Drill Point Lead & Tap Grinding Attachment (for the Mk2 and Mk3?).
It has the 6 jaw! The rack lever knob is missing.
They got it for free. Lucky sods.
click here to see the source
missing image

TOP

↓ (10-10-07) Lot 82, the last bid was 20 pounds. The reserve had been met! Thrupp, King Sturge Auction.
There were 8 bids, finishing at 20 pounds.
Looks like it is set up to cut (and why not?).
There are only 3 gib adjusting screws, not the usual 4?
The end of the handle is busted off. There's a surprise.
missing image

TOP

↓ Here is a model of the Clarkson, made by Barry Jordan.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I can across a web page on the Dreweatts.com website. Here is an extract from the page:

21 October 2004, 10:30, at Honiton Lot 396
price 10,000 pounds - 15,000 pounds
A very fine engineered exhibition model of a 1/5th scale Mk1 Clarkson Tool and Cutter Grinder
built by Barry Jordan between 1997 and 1998, from access to a full size machine, Courtesy of Mr A
Booth of Woodborough, Notts.
Height 14 inches.
For further details of the specification of this machine and its award winning achievements,
please contact our specialist department.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
missing image

TOP

↓ This is an image of a very early Clarkson Mark1 off the lathes.co.uk website.
click here to see the source
missing image

TOP

↓ This is an image of a brand new Clarkson Mark1 off the MachineSpares website.
The pedestal and table feed screw handle is different. The light is modern. It has certainly changed.
click here to see the source
click here to see the source
The MachineSpares website has a list of spares for the Clarksons. Apparently they have manuals and some spares.

Notice that the normal 2.1/2 inch thick base casting is not present on this machine. Ken Widdall pointed out this feature (also see the March machine on the Mark 2 web page).

Their advert states:
March/Clarkson Tool and Cutter Grinder Mk1. 2250 pounds + vat
MKI March/Clarkson tool and cutter grinder in as new condition built 1998, complete set of metric and imperial standard tooling, optional upgrade MK II roller table fitted, machine ready to grind end mills & slot drills. 3 PH, 415v.

missing image

TOP HOME