Built in three versions, all of identical construction and specification - one operation manual covered them all - the Elliott Omnispeed, Omnitool and Omniturn lathes were an import to the UK from Eastern Europe from the 1960s into the late 1970s. Many versions were badged as being by Butler, then a Company owned by the Elliott Group - but it was only until around 1918 that Butler manufactured their own models. After 1918, Butler concentrated on their specialities, shapers, vertical slotters and similar types..
The Omnispeed MS was classed as the general-purpose model, the Omniturn MP as a production machine with hydraulic copying and associated equipment and the Omnitool MT as the toolroom version - the latter model probably just selected from a batch as being the most accurate one or two made.
Being modestly priced and built to a very high specification, the lathes sold well and numbers regularly appear on the used market. Two centre heights were available for the Omnispeed, 75/8" and 8 inches (194 and 206 mm) and a choice of between-centres capacities of 24, 36, 48 and 60 inches ( 600, 900, 1200 and 1500 mm). The larger of the two - otherwise identical to the smaller - was not intended for heavier work, but for larger yet lighter jobs - though one can bet that this did not stop users attempting to grossly overload them. Depending upon the year of manufacture, either three or four speed ranges were offered, these being in a set of 12 with a 4.5 or 7 h.p. motor or, with a 2-speed 3 h.p./6 h.p. motor, 24. The slowest speed listed was 15 r.p.m. and the fastest 3300 r.p.m.
The Omniturn and Omnitool were offered with just one centre height of 75/8" ( (194 mm) and a single between-centres capacity of 36" (900 mm). For all years of production it appears that two 12-speed speed ranges were offered - set to be more suitable for the lathe's intended tasks - these spanning either 40 to 33000 r.p.m. and 40 to 4000 r.p.m.
One problem on all models concerned the screwcutting and feeds charts, these being positioned almost horizontally on top of the screwcutting gearbox and subject to general wear such that they quickly become unreadable. Happily the manual has clear, enlarged reproductions that can be printed out as a substitute. The literature below gives a very full and detailed account of the construction, specifications and optional extras of the Omnispeed, Omnitool and Omniturn lathes..