WMW Union Borers Home Page
Mk.1 WMW Union Borers BFT63 and BFT80
Mk.2 WMW Union Borers BFT63 and BFT80
Mk.3 WMW Union Borers BFT63 and BFT80
Mk.1 WMW Union Borers BFT100, BFT125, BFP125, BFP160 & BFP200
WMW Union Borers BFT125/5 and BFP125/5
Mk.2 WMW Union Borers BFT100, BFT125, BFP125, BFP160 & BFP200
..other models to follow as time allows...
Made from the early 1950s until the 1980s, the WMW Union horizontal boring and milling machines were, for their capacity and strength, modestly priced and consequently exported in considerable numbers worldwide.
Smallest and least expensive of the range - and consequently one of the most popular models - was the BFT63 together with its otherwise mechanically identical but larger-capacity brother, the BFT80.
Made from the early 1950s - the first (Mk.1) types can be recognised by exposed pulleys on top of the main column- the BFT63 and BFT80 were to be built in two further very similar forms, the earlier of these (the Mk.2) being recognisable by its lighter "rounded" end steady, and the lack of an Ammeter on the headstock. The later Mk.3 had an end steady of considerably greater mass with a distinctive flat top, the speeds and feeds chart moved from its previous position of the curved front face of the headstock to a rectangular plate on the long extension to the left and a number of minor alterations to the controls including, on most models, red knobs instead of black on the control handles - these alterations first appearing in a Union WMW catalogue during 1963. However, although the styling and some minor details might have changed, in virtually every other respect the two machines were identical in both their mechanical design and work capacity. Catalogue extracts for later Mk.3 model are shown below on this page and many for the earlier Mk.2 on this page. In 1966 the BFT63 and BFT80 were both superseded by yet another pair of machines - again each of the same design except for their capacity - the BFT80/2 and BFT 90/2..
High-resolution pictures - may take time to open