In 1927 EXE introduced the "Exlet", a basic, 2-inch centre height, 13-inch between centres, no-frills, plain-turning machine with a 20.5-inch long, flat-topped bed just 1.5" wide with 60-degree sides. The simple carriage was propelled by a hand-operated, 0.5" diameter, Whitworth-form 14 t.p.i. Leadscrew that, unusually for a very cheap lathe, was not overhung but supported in a bearing at its left-and end. The headstock contained a spindle (with No. 0 Morse taper and a 12 t.p.i. Nose) rotated by a system similar to that used on the company's other lathes with a very large diameter overhung pulley that both took the place of backgear (in providing slow speeds) and also added something of a flywheel effect. The slide rest assembly was of the simplest kind possible with a single, swivelling toolslide pivoting on the saddle. Both a bench and stand mounted model were offered, the latter being a light-weight version of that used on the 21/2" centre height model. With only 0.97-inches of travel, the barrel of the No. 1 Morse taper, lever-driven tailstock was of limited use for drilling. For the bench model Exe introduced a special lightweight foot motor that an owner could use to rig up an independent drive system. On its introduction the lathe cost £3 : 17s : 6d, a price that makes an interesting comparison with the £4 : 10 : 0d asked for the conventional backgeared, screwcutting and gap-bed (but very lightly built) 3" Randa lathe and around £9 : 0s : 0d for a 4" Round-bed Drummond. By 1935 the model had disappeared from the maker's lists and, judging by its extreme rarity today, few can have been sold. If you have one of these lathes, the writer would be very interested to hear from you.