A hydraulic copying lathe, the Myford Mini-Kop was, in its day, widely used by both industry and technical training institutes and  also exported - especially to the USA and Canada. The lathe was built in four versions: Model 1, Model 1a, Model 3 and Model 3a, with the Model 1 offered as both a heavily modified Super 7B and as a similarly-altered ML7 Tri-Leva - both being multi-function machines able to perform as ordinary screwcutting lathes and as hydraulic copying units. The first true, dedicated Mini-Kop, constructed only for hydraulic copying and incapable of being used as an ordinary centre lathe, was the Model 1A . The Models 3 and 3a were almost identical - apart from their spindles and the fitting of single-action hydraulic control on the latter.
A complete, unmodified Model 1 Mini-Kop has only recently been discovered (many examples must have been converted back into ordinary centre lathes) but the parts are easily spotted: the bed had bosses cast into its front surface by the feet to accept holders for the automatic knock-off rod; the Super-7-style cross slide had no T-slots and both front and rear mounting holes to accept the ordinary top slide or a special toolholder; the apron controls were transposed (the carriage handwheel to the left and the clasp nuts to the right) and the saddle fitted with a raised section at its right-hand end.
Intended for serious work, the Model 1 was beautifully made - and very expensive. In 1959, when an ordinary Super 7B was £120, the Mini-kop Model 1 was listed at a breathtaking £696 in basic, ready-to-run form. Few can have been sold, those surviving being remarkably few in number.
Easily distinguished from other versions by its standard Myford "Industrial" cabinet stand (with a left-hand cupboard and two open shelves) the Model 1a is relatively common - whereas the quite different, more highly developed 3a (there was no model 2) was fitted to a custom-made stand with a very deep chip tray, a plain front, no storage capacity and a separate control consul at the tailstock end.
Unfortunately, the bed on all but the Model 1 Mini-Kop is wider than that on the ordinary 7-Series, and hence the saddle assembly from those lathes will not fit. However, the original saddle is very thick and it is possible to machine this down and bolt a cut-down Series 7 saddle on top complete with the cross and top slide assembly. Some adjustment to the tool height is then required, but the process is, apparently, possible. Unfortunately, after the Model 1, the headstock spindle did not have a thread, but was formed instead with an integral flange. Whilst this can be re-machined, in the usual way, to mount a chuck, it is better to make up an intermediate distance-piece in cast-iron and machine that for any particular mounting required. A powerful, slip-free drive was provided by a 2 h.p. 3-phase motor and a wide, toothed belt - any change of speed requiring the pairs of drive pulleys to be swapped for alternatives.
The Mini-Kop in all its forms followed the Myford tradition of being a beautifully made lathe with fine detailing and an excellent finish. Although essentially simple machines, and easy to operate, it is vital to consult the operation manual (email for details) to get the various settings right and absolutely essential to make sure that the hydraulic oil is perfectly clean and the system properly set up..