email: tony@lathes.co.uk
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Metal Master Lathe - USA

Manufactured by the Metal Master Tool Company of Mt. Ephraim, N.J. 08039 USA, the "Metal Master" lathe appeared for the first time in the October 1965 editions of the magazines Popular Mechanics and Popular Science magazines - and then in the November issue of Mechanix Illustrated. The lathe continued to be advertised infrequently for the next twelve months or so - and then disappeared. Although its name was similar to the "Metalmaster", a "Universal" lathe produced in very limited numbers in England, the two machines had nothing in common.
In direct competition with the well-established and very popular Austrian-built Emco Unimat SL, the Metal Master shared the same basic design - a relatively flimsy (though adequate), twin-bar bed, aluminium headstock and tailstock castings, a central leadscrew, an overhung spindle pulley and a very basic tool slide. However, while the Unimat, with its stiff mounting base looked somehow "right" and capable of being an effective and functional machine, the American version with its extra-long, flexible-looking bed bars appeared completely "wrong" and gave the impression of a lathe unlikely to be capable of serious work - though one might suppose that, if on a very tight budget, it would have been better than nothing.
Although the advertisement mentions
Accessories never before available in this price range, it is certain that, while its standard equipment was as sparse at that provided with the SL (except that there was no motor), a steady rest, a few tool bits and a small vice were the only extras to reach the manufacturing stage. However, the company did offer a small drill press.
If any reader can provide copies of Metal Master advertising material, the author would be pleased to hear from you.

With thanks to Tim Sommers in the USA for taking the time and trouble to search through

For comparison - an early version of the Emco Unimat

email: tony@lathes.co.uk
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Metal Master Lathe - USA