Mk.5 Portass Portass PD5 First Portass Lathe Portass Model C Shaper Unknown
Amongst the plethora of models listed by Portass from the 1930s to the 1950s the 3" x 16" Mk. 5 (Not to be confused with the later PD5) must be amongst the rarest--only two having come to light in recent years. An entirely conventional machine the lathe was also, surprisingly, badged as a "George Adams" - a brand more normally associated with high-class machine tools and prices to match. The Mk. 5 was entirely conventional with a simple split-bronze bearing backgeared headstock that was supplied as either a bolt-on unit or cast as one with the flat-topped , V-edged, gap bed. Although a low-cost product the lathe was well specified with a compound slide rest, a T-slotted cross slide, leadscrew clasp nuts and a large handle on the end of the leadscrew.
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The headstock, cast as one with the bed flat-topped, V-edged bed, carried simple split bronze headstock bearings. The backgear was a full-width, sliding type and, surprisingly for a cheap lathe of the period, a cast-iron cover was provided to guard the changewheels. |
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Although the leadscrew handwheel with its horn handle looks a little on the luxurious side for an early Portass the rest of the machine was typical of the maker with in-house manufactured handwheels and an inverted carriage rack that was prone to fill up with swarf and jam. The single-sided "thumb-action" compound slide rest handwheels were rather Drummond-like in appearance and, typical of an economy machine of the time, lacked any form of micrometer dial. |
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