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

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There are more pictures in Gallery 2


GALLERY 1 - Here are some Clarksons that have survived the test of time.

If you have any Mark1 pictures then I'll be more than glad to add them to this page. Thanks.

Have you got any Serial Number and Date information?

Let me know if I have to remove any of these images.

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I've only collected a few serial numbers so far: clarkson-serial-numbers.xls

↓ 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 surrounding '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.

Clarkson Machine Tools

March (sorry for the poor quality)



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.

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↓ (06-08-2010) 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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↓ (01-08-2010) 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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↓ 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.



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

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

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

↓ 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.
↓ Serial number = 13014

↓ A box of goodies.

↓ A nice view of the radius attachment.




↓ 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.

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↓ 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

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↓ 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

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↓ (11-03-2010) 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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↓ (10-10-2007) 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.

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↓ (18-03-2009) Lot 9, went for 80 pounds. machinebidder.com
This looks like it is all original, with maybe a custom collar or something in the Head, and a 7/16th Whitworth spanner. Nice
The end of the rack is ready to catch someone.
It looks like it has the spindle extension fitted.

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↓ (15-10-2009) This neat looking one was up for sale near junction 36 of the M1. It was advertised on the Union Steam .co.uk website by messymiller.
Serial Number = 9439
It is driven off a home made 1ph to 3ph converter.
There is an extension spindle.
There is a buffing spindle and another extension spindle sitting on the table
The wheel guard looks a neat job.
click here to see the source

 

Addendum: The above machine again appeared for sale, this time on ebay on 04-10-10, with a few more pictures.

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↓ Lot 186, was for sale in Birmingham.
The pedestal is a Mark1 pedestal. The main unit looks like a Mark1, but the way the belt guard wraps around it probably is a Mark 2.
There are extensions on each end of the table, bellows on the left, and there are 5 gib screws. Definitely not a Mark1 table, a Mark2 I think.
So, is this a Mark2 on a Mark1 pedestal? I suppose if you were upgrading you could use your existing pedestal to save on price.
Ah, I just noticed the plate says 'March'.
Notice the thumb screw that appears to lock the axle of the rack gear. That is a good idea. On occasion, when feeding in using the feed screw axis, I have had to manually hold the table steady as the rack tends to creep sometimes.

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↓ (02-12-2009) This was for sale in Essex (Stationary Engine Forum) for about 300 pounds, with a lot of tooling. Nice.
The owner had acquired a Mark 2 or 3, so as a result this one was up for sale.

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↓ (01-06-2010) 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.

 

↓ 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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↓ (13-05-2010) 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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↓ Here is a model of the Clarkson, made by Barry Jordan.

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

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↓ This is an image of a 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.
They have a brand new ex-works March Mark1 for sale!

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).

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There are more pictures in Gallery 2

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