Tom Senior - what have I got?

Any info relating to Tom Senior mills and lathes

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TSCB
Posts: 2
Joined: Mon 08 Aug , 2022 15:33 pm
Hardware/Software: Colchester Bantam 2000
Tom Senior Turret Model - exact model not known.

Tom Senior - what have I got?

Post by TSCB » Mon 08 Aug , 2022 15:48 pm

I've just bought a beautiful Tom Senior with Vertical Turret in excellent condition - but am not sure exactly what it is.
Here are some images.
Can anyone help?
Thanks,
Steve
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DavidB
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Re: Tom Senior - what have I got?

Post by DavidB » Mon 08 Aug , 2022 21:53 pm

Have you looked here http://www.lathes.co.uk/senior/ . My neighbour has the same mill although the motor has been changed for a 3 phase motor and inverter from Newton Tesla IIRC. What's the rather tall cover on the top, quite a bit taller than a normal fan housing.

Andy B
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Re: Tom Senior - what have I got?

Post by Andy B » Tue 16 Aug , 2022 14:34 pm

Steve,
It is a TS 'Light Vertical' - that has been 'pimped' (but done well if the engineering matches up to the exterior views)!
There should be a serial number - often stamped into front of the column. I don't recall if the Light Verticals were included in the 4 digit number series of the M1's. IIRC, the 'E' type machines (same quill head on a lighter round column base) were in a different S/No. sequence.

It has clearly had a replacement motor - I'm guessing 3ph with VFD. The extended top cover could be containing something for better cooling when running at low speed using the VFD.

The power feed on the table isn't original, but looks to have been neatly added. There is also some addition to the front of the table.

Don't know what else to add at present - if all the slides are good throughout their travel and the quill runs quietly under load, then just enjoy using it!

Andy

TSCB
Posts: 2
Joined: Mon 08 Aug , 2022 15:33 pm
Hardware/Software: Colchester Bantam 2000
Tom Senior Turret Model - exact model not known.

Re: Tom Senior - what have I got?

Post by TSCB » Tue 16 Aug , 2022 15:26 pm

Thanks Andy - interesting!
Tony Griffiths suggested it was a TS E-Type fitted with an S-type vertical head.
The motor is 3-phase - but the whole system cleverly runs from a 13 amp 240VAC socket.
There's a lot of electrical and electronic control stuff in the upper main structure which makes this happen!
Grateful for your observations.
Steve

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