Multifix, a Swiss Company, are competitors to, amongst others, the well-known British design of "Dickson" quick-change toolpost (with its dovetail clamping system), the American "Aloris" piston type, the compact Swiss Tripan, that direct copy of the Multifix, the SPI-made Multiquick, and three out-of production models: the German-made Drehblitz (similar in function but not interchangeable with the Multifix); the German Parat (this was able to take 4 toolholders at once) and the expensive "Bergström" - whose details can be seen on the Öronmaskiner lathe page.
Able to be traced back to the "Multi-Swiss", a design by a French company, the Multifix has now been copied (rather effectively) by the Chinese and is offered at a much lower price. However, the genuine Multifix is still a sought-after accessory - though the Chinese toolholders do interchange onto the central block without trouble. Original Swiss-made units are always stamped on the side of their body "Original Multifix Type B J.F. Minder Geneva Made in Switzerland" - even the ones in found America stamped on their top face with "Enco" (an importer and distributor of machine tools and accessories) carry the same inscription. Unique in offering 40 pre-set rotational positions, like all quick-set toolpost the Multifix allows an individual toolholder to be adjusted up and down on the main block until the cut is perfect - and then locked at that setting. Providing that the two are kept together, every time the holder is dropped back into position, the tool will align perfectly at its original height. In an ordinary repair workshop it is usually for around 6 holders to be in constant use, together with a few extra in hand for one-off jobs.
Made of "Chrome steel" the units are case hardened with the serrated teeth ground in. A variety of sizes is offered - from A, through A, B, C and D - and a number of different toolholders including: standard types with parallel slots; semi-circular and circular to hold round tools with adapter bushes to take Morse taper fittings; V-bottomed holders to take round boring bars; off-set holders; parting-blade carriers and, a type that appears to have been unique to the Multifix and Drehblitz, holders with a quick-withdrawal mechanism to speed up screwcutting. As an addition to the chart listing the sizes and types of toolpost and their associated holders, the makers also include data concerning the maximum dimensions of a lathe's top slide and the power of the lathe (from 1 h.p. to 30 h.p.) - thus enabling a customer to choose the most appropriate unit. Details of sizes, fittings and holders can be seen in a chart towards the bottom of the page..