Clarkson Mark 1 Tool and Cutter Grinder

This is Gallery 3

CONTENTS OF THIS PAGE (dd-mm-yy) - GALLERY 3 - 2010
20-12-10 Toronto	04-10-10 Leicester	13-08-10 Lathes.co.uk	16-06-10 New South Wales
14-12-10 UK	04-10-10 UK	12-08-10 UK Auction	01-06-10 Australia
04-12-10 Hamilton	02-10-10 1st Machinery	12-08-10 Goole	31-05-10 Gloucestershire
01-12-10 Poole	02-10-10 Sussex	10-08-10 Germany	13-05-10 Auction
18-11-10 UK	16-09-10 Poole	10-08-10 UK Auction	12-03-10 Kimpton
17-11-10 Project Machinery	09-09-10 UK	06-08-10 Cheshire	11-03-10 1st Machinery
13-11-10 Yorkshire	06-09-10 London	04-08-10 New Zealand	14-01-10 Stourport on Severn
07-11-10 Luton	19-08-10 Home and Workshop Machinery	01-08-10 Knebworth
06-11-10 Quillstar	14-08-10 Canada	01-08-10 Belgium
06-11-10 Delhi	13-08-10 UK	01-08-10 BW Machine Tools

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↓ (20-12-10) This one was up for sale in Toronto for 1200 dollars Canadian (763 pounds).
There is no belt guard.
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↓ (14-12-10) This one sold on ebay for 327 pounds.
Serial Number = 1559
It is an early model from Clarkson Engineers Ltd.
The locking nut that locks the rise and fall of the spindle head has been replaced with a locking handle arrangement.
It looks like there is a gauge to indicate the degree of rise and fall of the spindle head. Nice idea.
There is a homemade apron protectors at one end of the bottom table, probably more to protect the user from the end of the rack rather than keeping grit off the ways.
The two handwheels are replacements.
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↓ (04-12-10) This one was located in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada and up for sale for 540 dollars Canadian (286 pounds)
There is a very nice view of the extension spindle.
It was described as 575 volt 1 hp 3ph, some original fixtures and centers, Very Good Condition.
From the Kijiji classified ads in Hamilton.
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↓ (01-12-10) This one was located in Poole in Dorset and up for sale on ebay.
The switch looks like it is very old.
It only comes with the centre brackets and some fingers.
The lamp looks like an original mem lamp, but the shade has been replaced.
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↓ (18-11-10) This dust extractor was up for sale on ebay for 235 pounds and open to offers.
It is described as a Clarkson DCE Single Phase Dust Extractor.
Model - DX7, Serial Number - 502, 421, 0.75 Kw, 240V, 1PH, 50Hz, Single Phase.

A note from the March Engineering Operators Manual:
"If you use Dry Grinding Machines for 12 hours per week or more you must supply some means of dust extraction.
You may either link your March Tool & Cutter Grinding Machine to your existing system or use a separate March Dust Extraction Unit which can be purchased as an optional extra. If, however, you do not require dust extraction facilities you must blank off the guard outlet with 1/8" minimum thickness of plate."
The law requires you to guard as much of the wheel as practically possible.

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↓ (17-11-10) This one was for sale by project machinery for 295 pounds + vat.
Interestingly the name plate on this one says 'Clarkson Machine Tools'. Another company name change! (see the top of Gallery 1 and the Clarkson Related Information page for more information).
It comes with the centres, universal head, 4 sleeves, fingers, and a diamond dresser.
It has a 3 phase dual voltage motor.
A sticker on the outside of the belt guard, at the spindle end, shows the direction of rotation on this machine.
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↓ (13-11-10) This one was located in South Yorkshire and sold for 197 pounds on Ebay.
There is no belt guard. The switch is unusual.
The tooling is what you see.
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↓ (07-11-10) This one was located in Luton and sold on Ebay for 170 pounds.
The nameplate is missing.
It has a lever welded to the clamp bolt, to quickly lock the head assembly after height adjustment.
The wheel guard is a neat job.
There is a rubber pad that goes some way to protect things under the grinding wheel.
The gib screws have been replaced by long bolts. I've had to do that on a couple of mine.
There is a bent bolt attaching the Universal Head.
This one also has the spindle rotation direction sticker on the belt guard.
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↓ (06-11-10) This one was for sale on the QuillStar website for 195 pounds.
It comes with centres and universal workhead (bare). Fitted with 1ph, 240 volt electrics.
It has had a repaint.
It was also up for sale on Ebay with a buy it now price of 275 pounds, and eventually sold for 225 pounds.
click here to see the source
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↓ (06-11-10) This one was for sale in Delhi, India. My, don't they get around!
The original MEM light, with the square section arm, looks like it has had the lamp holder replaced with a white one.
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↓ (04-10-10) This one sold for 275 pounds on ebay.
Serial Number = 7690.
It was located in Leicester. The owner has only used it about 20 times in the last 40 years, and it has been unused for the last 6 years.
Notice the useful indexing holes in the collar on the sleeve in the Universal Head.
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↓ (04-10-10) This one sold on ebay for 205 pounds.
I've shown this one because interestingly the spindle "head" is on risers moving the head forwards ( towards you ) away from the main pillar , allowing a greater racking distance past the wheel.
The up down adjustment of the wheel has been altered to take a hand wheel with graduated dial allowing much easier and more accurate height adjustment.
There was no tooling with it.
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↓ (02-10-10) These 7 lots were up for auction by 1st Machinery.
Looks like these Clarksons were part of a 'production line' set up, as each machine is set up to do a different task.
It's a shame that someone has painted over some of the name plates.
There are some Mark 2's in the pictures.
Lots 22,23,24,25,26,27,28
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↓ (02-10-10) This was for sale in West Sussex.
Serial Number = 727
This early one has the original type of belt guard (painted red here and rightly described as 'hopelessly-inadequate' elsewhere).
It is strange that this s/n 727 has an early belt guard and yet the s/n 403 (below) has the conventional guard. Maybe the serial numbers stated by the owners are wrong (or the guard is not original).
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↓ (16-09-10) This was up for auction in Poole, UK .
Hilco Industrial Online Auction (for Pilkington Group PLC).
This one has one of those old style switches.

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↓ (09-09-10) This one eventually sold for 130 pounds on Ebay.
There was no tooling with it, as that was being sold separately.
The switch gear looks original and the handwheel is a replacement.
Serial Number = 403.
That must be a very old machine if the serial number is correct.
It does look good for its age.
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↓ (06-09-10) This was located in North London and was up for sale for 480 pounds on the homeworkshop.org.uk website (always worth a visit).
It is a newer model as the name plate looks like it is marked 'Clarkson International'.
(Interestingly you can make your own extension spindles to whatever wheel bore you require.)
The ad had disappeared by the evening, so I think it sold quickly.
The ad read, and I quote "This MK1 clarkson tool and cutter grinder is in very good condition it's had new SKF spindle bearings fitted and all the v slide have been done it runs quite and all parts move smoothly with no tight spots. The motor is three phase and can run from an inverter comes with instruction manual It comes with what's is in the photo, the universal head is fitted with a collet holder that takes R8 collets or any R8 fixture it comes with a 16mm collet and the retaining bolt. The 2 centres are virtually brand new. There is a strait shank holder with grind marks on the front end and has 3 adaptor bushes 1/4" 1/2" 5/8". There is a morse taper holder in very good condition. There is 2 spindle extension one is 70mm long body with a 43mm spindle the other has a 50mm body with a 34mm spindle. Comes with a good quality spiralux drill sharpening attachment with instructions. There 9 adaptor bushes and 2 other bits but these fit a 25mm straight shank holder which I don't have. There is tool bit holder which fits in the universal head with the aid of an 3/4" R8 collet." end quote
Very nice.
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↓ (19-08-10) This was sale on the Home and Workshop Machinery site for 575 pounds.
It was described as 'a bench mounted model', which probably means there aint no pedestal.
There are a few holes in the table, some angle attached, and the rack feed arm looks like a longer replacement.
click here to see the source
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↓ (14-08-10) This was for sale for 950 Canadian dollars, about 586 pounds.
I hope that comes with the table and other stuff for that price.
The wheel looks like it is on back to front.
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↓ (13-08-10) 8 tool and cutter grinders and a lot of spares were up for sale as spares and repairs on ebay. The lot sold for 565 pounds!
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↓ (13-08-10) This is advertised on the lathes.co.uk site for 650 pounds.
Serial Number = 9625 (by the looks of it).
It's fitted with a single phase motor with the original push button start.
It looks like a well modified Mark1 to me.
There is a quick action lever on the vertical positioning locking bolt and also bellows on the vertical positioning adjusting screw. There are bellows on the table, protectors on the table ends, and a graduated dial by the looks of it.
The light is an original MEM light, just like mine. I even have the same broom!
And with the tooling, extremely nice indeed.
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↓ (12-08-10) Lot 32 was sold. Serial Number = 7873.
I've shown this just because I'm spotting serial numbers.
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↓ (12-08-10) This one was up for sale for 575 pounds. Maden Machine Tools, Goole.
It certainly looks lovely. I like the box, and the ring spanner.
There is a choice of two.
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↓ (10-08-10) This was for sale by a German owner.
It has the Air Bearing Flute Grinding attachment.
Note again the separate Clarkson plate with the new font, affixed to the pedestal.
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↓ (10-08-10) Lot 50
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↓ (06-08-10) This Clarkson belongs to John Lewis. He bought it off West Point Machine Tools, Cheshire.
Serial Number = 6230
It is a fine clean example in good condition with virtually all the tooling and a good selection of wheels. It has been used and well looked after.
This machine has the original paintwork, motor, switch gear etc. Nice.
I think the white painted tool post holder is not part of the standard equipment, but a good piece to have none the less. This particular tool holder is shown in the 5 part Clarkson Mark 2 article in the MEW magazine (No.148 to No.153). Mike Haughton, the author of the article, describes in detail the purchase, set up and use of a Mark 2 in his workshop. This tool holder is shown in photo 20 of the second part in No.149. There it is used to mount a diamond dresser.
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↓ (04-08-10) This clean one sold for $980 dollars on the TradeMe site in New Zealand.
It was stripped down and rebuilt for the seller's home workshop.
It had new spindle bearings fitted, a new belt, and a repaint. The seller also made a new name badge for it, and it looks fantastic.
It was fitted with a single phase 3/4 hp motor running at 2850 rpm.
Note the rotary switch on the pedestal (NZ spec?) and what looks like an adjustable wheel guard. The centre bracket bolts that secure the centres do not have the small tommy bars. The semi-circular recess on the top table is usually painted in as well.
Nice.
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↓ (01-08-10) This one was up for sale for 675 pounds. Nobilla Machine Tools, Knebworth.
I've just noticed that is the exact same machine that appears in Lot 15 above. 5 months later it is again up for sale elsewhere!
The current seller has obviously photoshopped one of the Lot 15 photos and pasted it onto a photo of their plant.
The universal head has not moved, the rack feed lever has been erased, and looking around the edges you can see where the photo has been badly cropped.
It's still a very desirable example.
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↓ (01-08-10) This Clarkson was on the APT site, Belgium.
This looks like it is mainly all original.
It's had a repaint (to match the floor?).
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↓ (01-08-10) This one was up for sale for 750 pounds. BW Machine Tools, Leicester.
It comes with the expensive radius attachment.
There are protectors at the end of the table and the table feed screw handle looks different to that on early models.
Looks like it has the extension spindle fitted, and maybe more bits on the shelf to the left.
It has NOT had a repaint (to match the floor?)
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↓ (16-06-10) This sold for 500 Australian dollars in New South Wales.
The serial number was declared as 10106?
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↓ (01-06-10) This sold Down Under on ebay for 326 Australian dollars.
Serial Number = 7898
There is a custom made protector at the end of the table to maybe protect the rack from dust or even protect the operator from the sharp rack. I've stabbed myself more than once on the end of my rack. That's a good idea.
There's a tilting vice on a plate, maybe used for lathe bit grinding.
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↓ Update 20-02-11 Romesh Rodrigo from Melbourne Australia has been in touch. He picked the 7898 machine up from Newcastle and is now the proud owner. Ah, there is nothing to beat the feeling when you get a Clarkson.
I was thrilled to bits when he got in touch and it is pleasing to see where the machine finally ended up. Here are a few of photos of the machine in a cosy corner in his brand new workshop. It looks great in the new home.
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↓ (31-05-10) Lot 36 was for sale in Gloucestershire.
Serial Number = 8818
I just love those chucks.
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↓ (13-05-10) Lot 25 had an estimate of 400-600 pounds.
Serial Number = 5735
Note that the rack lever can be mounted on the left or the right side, as shown in these pictures.
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↓ (12-03-10) Lot 15 was for sale in Kimpton, Hitchin.
This is a dusty one, and the computer desk is in the background.
There is a handy looking stop mechanism on the side of the table. A similar mechanism appears on the Mark3 models.
The head is attached to the table without the bracket and note the welded bar on the screw in the Universal Head.
The handle on the height adjuster screw has been modified and there is a new ball on the rack feed lever.
There is an extra bolt in the 'tear drop' shaped table top plinth. I surmise this could be there to quickly locate the top at 90 degrees to the spindle axis. There could be a corresponding tapping to quickly bring the top in line with the spindle axis. Nice idea, I like that.
These machines are nearly always midly customised, to suit the operators needs and to make his life a bit easier.
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↓ (11-03-10) Lot 32 went for 177 pounds. 1st Machinery Auctions Ltd, Coventry
It looks in great shape and comes with the required 7/16th Whitworth spanner.
The motor looks like a replacement.
You can quite well see the two screws for the lamp base.
The black Clarkson lettering is a fine job. I like that.
Very nice indeed.
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↓ (14-01-10) This was for sale in Stourport on Severn.
Serial Number = 13827
Is this a March model?
Note that the Clarkson moulding on the pedestal is not integral to the pedestal casting, but is an additional casting affixed by 6 fasteners.
Also note that the letter font is completely different (I call it Zorro lightening bolt type font). Maybe it is home made?
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