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Boxford Lathe Model CSB
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A detailed Manual & Parts List is available for all Boxford lathes together
with changewheels and other spares.
For more details of the lathe that Boxford copied, the 9-inch South Bend, click here
For details of other South Bend Clones click here

In 1951 a very slightly cheaper version of the Boxford lathe was introduced, the 4.5" x 16" Model CSB - possibly for "Model C School Boxford". .Unlike the 22" between-centres Model C at £112 that lacked a motor in its basic price, the CSB was delivered complete, ready-to-run with a 1/3 h.p. motor for £105 - a total saving of some £16 : 5s : 0d.  The simplified 8-speed drive had the motor bolted direct to the countershaft upright instead of on a separate, adjustable horizontal motor platform. With a single-pulley drive on motor and countershaft, and using backgear, the eight spindle speeds were: 38, 55, 87, 125, 200, 285, 450 and 650 r.p.m. By paying £3 : 10s : 0d extra the motor and countershaft could be fitted with 2-step pulleys when the speeds became: 38, 55, 75, 87, 110, 125, 175, 200, 250, 285, 400, 450, 570, 650, 900 and 1300 r.p.m. Unfortunately the makers neglected to mention the fact that in order to run on top speed a more powerful and expensive motor was required. To adjust the motor-to-countershaft belt tension meant repositioning the motor itself - however, once this had been done it was not normally necessary to make any further changes until the belt began to wear.   Early examples of the CSB were different, and fitted with the novel, quick-action belt-tensioning device used on the lathes of the late 1940s - probably another case of using up no-longer-needed spares. Other evidence of clearing storeroom shelves was the use, throughout the life of the model, of an early-pattern South Bend type saddle with its simple screw-in, rather than bolt-on, cross-feed screw support bracket. Ambitious advertising in the model-engineering press of the day attempted to position the CSB as an alternative to the Myford ML7; unfortunately the Boxford cost nearly twice as much and, while it did offer a range of advantages, there can have been few takers. A "Training" version of the lathe, the CSBP, was also offered: shorn of screwcutting equipment and usually, but not always, backgear, this model was aimed at the school and college market and had little appeal for the model or experimental engineer..

Boxford CSB in 1951 - note the operating hexagon for the quick-action countershaft assembly protruding from the headstock-end bed foot.

The Boxford CSB as it appeared in 1965. This version has the later bed feet, a simplified countershaft and a much lighter carriage handwheel