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Replacing the long-lived and well-known Myford ML8, the Mystro was Myford's last venture into the wood-lathe market and sold in two versions, the Mk.1 and Mk. 2. With drive by V-belts over multi-step pulleys, the UK-built 5-speed Mk. 1 is usually, but not always, found finished in red and black while the Taiwanese-constructed, variable-speed Mk. 2 is more usually in aquamarine. Arranged to swing through 180°, the cast-iron headstock had indents at 0° for between-centres work, at 45° for small bowls and cups at 90° when it faced forwards to utilise the front-mounted bowl-turning attachment. Running in what the makers described as heavy-duty taper roller bearings, the No. 2 Morse taper spindle was fitted with both a lock to ease the fitting and removal of spindle-nose accessories and a 24-division indexing plate. Both machines shared a similar speed range running from around 175 to 2400 r.p.m.
Unfortunately early versions of the lathe were fitted with a simple bed-mounted tool rest with an open slot down the centre. This unit suffered from a tendency to jam and an inability to bring the T-rest close enough to the centre line for the turning of slender items such as lace bobbins. From machine No. MM169177 these problems were addressed and an alternative rest provided, recognisable by its enclosed top surface, and a kit made available to convert earlier models
Fitted as standard was a bed able to take a very reasonable 40 inches between centres - though the factory offered a service to shorten this if necessary to suit a customer's particular requirement. Longer beds were also listed, up to a capacity of 60 inches, with those longer than 40 inches being given a polished steel finish.
Available only for lathes with a between-centre's capacity of 40 inches (others had to be bench mounted) the maker's stand was in pressed steel and had to be built up by the customer from a kit of parts.
One interesting accessory that survived almost unchanged from the Company's ML8 wood-lathe days was a compound slide rest for metal turning. This was available with either Imperial or metric calibrations and used the long cross slide from an ML7 mounted on an adapter bracket.
In 2004 the variable-speed Mystro was priced at £1050 ex-works plus VAT. The lathe came complete with a 3.4 h.p. 1-phase motor, a push-button on/off starter with reversing switch, an emergency stop button and a 10-turn potentiometer for speed control. Also included were a 305 mm (12") handrest, a wood-prong centre for the headstock, a 100 mm (4") faceplate, a No. 2 Morse taper cup centre for the tailstock, an oil/grease gun and an assortment of spanners and Allen keys..
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