Dating an Elliott Omnimill

[tony9f]

Before anyone gets the wrong idea; I have an Elliott Omnimill and have been trying to ascertain its age but can't seem to find anything either online or in print that gives me any indication of its build date.

I suspect that there isn't much in the way of records existing nowadays but perhaps one of you out there might have the knowledge of these things.


Regards

Tony 

[ettingtonliam]

Presumably you've already looked in the archive section of the www.lathes.co.uk site? There seem to have been several different sizes of mill to which Elliot aplied the name 'Omnimill', which is yours?
If you can't find what you want on the 'lathes' site, try emailing Tony Griffiths, he's a mine of information.

On one of the brochures on the site, you might get an idea of age from the fact that the telphone number is only 4 digits.

[tony9f]

Thanks yes I have already tried all the available sources of information and have a couple of versions of the manual but unfortunately there is really not much that identifies its age. Also although I have serial numbers, there is no reference to these with dates that I'm aware of.
I think that the machine range started with the 181 then the Junior Omnimill, Omnimill and finally the OO. There were several configurations of table feed drive and switch panel positions but again I can't find any reference to dates when these changes were carried out or even when the machines even first saw the light of day.
The best clue I have found came from the spindle bearings which I changed recently which were made by R&M and Skefko. Skefko became SKF in 1967 and R&M joined with Pollard to become RHP in around 1969/70 which gives an approximate date assuming the bearings weren't old stock. It has also had the motors changed to single phase so no joy there.
All I know is it's a late model OO and possibly pre 1970, I am really enquiring more out of curiosity and might never get an answer.

[milky]

The later ones are all 30INT on the horizontal. I have one but like you there is no definitive date, what are the oils recommended on the belt cover (this dates some)
Whats your serial numbers ??

Really late ones had a 30INT Metric Arbor (27mm), I didn't realise this on purchase and eventually had it turned and ground down to 1"
as getting hold of a 30INT horizontal arbor is now very tricky or expensive. I just looked and Rotagrip have some in stock £325 each.
Going back 3 or 4 years ago, they didn't have stock

I also have the slotting head, which when they appear go for silly money, problem is mine is for the 3MT horizontal it could be modified but i suspect I'll sell that at some atage.

[tony9f]

Mine has the 30INT horizontal spindle and I have an imperial arbor. Could you not turn up an adapter sleeve to locate the slotting head so that you can use it?

I'll have a look at the plates and report back.

Tony

[milky]

The slotting head would need a backing plate, to bring it out. It's on the list of jobs to look at but time dictates that will be in about 5 years or so !
I tried to persuade the owner of a 30INT one, that he modifiyed to work with his 3MT to swap but he wasn't interested unfortunatley.

[tony9f]

I got the serial number. It is BEC012476/711 if it helps and the gearbox plate quotes Shell Vitrea 37 as lubricant.

I have two manuals one being an Elliott publication (yours for 7/6) with the old pre 01 phone number which would date it pre 1965 and shows the horizontal spindle as 3MT. The second one is after Gates took over and showing a 30INT horizontal spindle, everything else in it is just copied on.

Tony

[briancad]

I have "OO" model #B.E.C.012486/938, purchased as new and unused from a small engineering business located in S.W. London during 1973 with 30INT 1" horizontal arbour. At that time I also used an "OO" in my day job that was probably a few years old. "181" models were horizontal only machines.

[tony9f]

Thanks for that snippet of information. It would appear that there is not much difference in age between our machines and I am coming to the conclusion that my machine is of a similar vintage as me. I believe that Elliotts closed their machine tool production in the early 1970's although it appears that Gates carried on catering for the machines.
It is a nice machine and I am glad I bought it as it fits nicely in my workshop and has the capacity to handle awkward types of work.

Tony

[Ken B]

The base of my Elliot has a casting date of May 70 (on the right side) so it can't be older than that. I suppose allowing 12/24 months before being made. It had R&M bearings in the head as well. Machine serial numbers don't seem to have any order. Mine is Bec 21595 108
Ken

[tony9f]

Thanks Ken for that info. I've had a look for the number but I can't seem to see it. Could you tell me whereabouts it is please. Is it stamped in or cast?
Tony

[Ken B]

Hello Tony,
Found it by dropping one of the change gears down the horizontal motor, cursing! I looked with a torch and on the left hand side I spotted the casting date cast vertically. I have a photo copy of the manual with breakdown diagrams and parts list. Also a copy of a Accuracy test report for machine 012456-337 (not dated), not for my machine though.
Regards Ken

[tony9f]

Hello Ken,

I had a look where you said but the only number I could see is the foundry pattern number and nothing vertically. The numbers on there don't correspond to any possible build date but my access to that part of the machine is limited and it could be obscured by the motor.
I agree with you about the serial numbers, it looks like they were allocated to the order rather than any specific machine type or maybe the numbers referred to the people who assembled them and I suspect any records where binned years ago.
It looks like your Omnimill is in very good condition. Mine had been converted to single phase and had the controls moved to a remote control panel, I further modified it to have a VFD on the vertical spindle, tidied up the electrics, added a homebrewed tacho readout and a couple of years ago replaced the DRO as the old one failed on one channel.
I still don't know how old it is but thanks for your input.

Regards Tony

[Ken B]

Hi Tony,

Picture attached. I removed the suds pump cover on the right hand side and took pic across, my mistake... the casting date is 

horizontal and upside down, picture you see is rotated see link... if it works (Not the most exciting of pictures!)

link

[tony9f]

Hello Ken,

Thanks for taking the trouble to send me that picture. What you have shown me is exactly what I've got in mine but they didn't include a date, I've had a good look inside the base and there is nothing else unfortunately so I'll just have to make do with my estimation. As I said previously this is more out of curiosity than for any pressing need.

Regards Tony