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ManSon Lathe Accessory Kits

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A complete Data Pack is available for the ManSon


Packed first in a wooden box, with the inside milled to hold the various components, the original ManSon accessory kit was offered (in 1949) at $34.50. The wooden box was superseded, first, by a hardwood-lined, 6" x 4" plastic box and then a wood-lined metal case. Although it's impossible to be categorical as to what was included (the writer has received various testimonies concerning the contents and factory lists varied with some having pictures and others without) the first kit is known to have contained a steel-bodied 4-jaw independent chuck (stamped with the ManSon name and address), a collet-holding nose-piece to take the supplied four collets (in stress proof steel) of 1/32", 1/16", 3/32" and 1/8"; a 11/2" or 13/4"-diameter faceplate with eight tapped holes, a tailstock drill-chuck, two tailstock collets, one countersink centre drill, two lathe dogs (sizes 3/16" and 3/8"), two high-speed tool bits (ready sharpened and ground) and an Allen-wrench. The two centres, which appear in most collections, seem not to have a home in the kit and may have been supplied as part of the lathe's standard equipment; some are of identical length, others with one of the pair longer than the other. Similar kits, but with different ranges of accessories, were also produced. Depending on the date of manufacture, the 4-jaw chuck was also known to have been supplied in a larger size, with an aluminium body, but without any maker's identification.
Relatively expensive, it appears from the numbers surviving that few can have been sold, but the Company did list all the items separately including two not in the kits, namely: test rods in Dural or brass 5/16" in diameter and 21/2" long with drilled centre holes; a tap and die set ($12.50) in either a metal or red cardboard case containing four taps and four dies sized 00-90, 0-80, 1-72 and 2-56, one tap and die holder, four bushings and one set-screw wrench.
Should any reader have a different kit, or comments to make about the contents, the writer would be interested to hear from you..

The first type of ManSon Accessory set in its wooden box - this example is known to have been purchased in 1949

A plastic-cased ManSon accessory kit known to be original - apart from the brass rods and Slocomb centre This set differs slightly from the maker's illustration below which has three tool bits holding the handle-equipped Allen key in place and two conical-nosed collets

A wooden box accessory kit as shown in the maker's sales literature

An almost original ManSon accessory kit, in a plastic case with wooden insert, consisting (in this case) of a four-jaw chuck and wrench, two drive dogs, faceplate, centre drill ( double-ended Slocomb), a miniature drill chuck and collet (with a taper to fit the tailstock), a screw-on headstock spindle-nose collet adapter with four collets, a lathe centre and a long Allen key.


Another ManSon plastic-case tool kit. This came with a 4-jaw chuck and wrench, faceplate, slotted catchplate, two centres, 1/8, 3/32, and 1/16 collets (the 1/32" is missing) collet nose piece, two drive dogs - the tailstock chuck (not shown) and two collets to fit it: one to accept 5/64" to 7/64" and the other from 3/64" to 5/64"
Left: full contents of the tool kit
Below: at the top tailstock collets and below those for the headstock

Another original kit with an unidentified item: in the foreground from the left item four (the first part is the oiler plug for the front headstock bearing)


The final type of accessory set in its metal box

Metal box tool kit from a Master lathe together with, on the right, an original cardboard box holding the very rare threading accessories - the latter offered at $12.50 Although the label on wooden-boxed accessory kit reads "Manson Small Machines W. Los Angeles 25 Calif", the threading kit has been found labelled "Master Lathe Los Angeles 24"


Manson Home Page   Duo Lathe   Master Lathe   Duo lathe Photo Essay   
MonoLathe   Accessory Kits

A complete Data Pack is available for the ManSon

ManSon Lathe Accessory Kits
E-MAIL   Tony@lathes.co.uk
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