The Harrison M Series lathes have been in production for many years and considerable numbers of the smaller and very popular models, the M250 and M300, are now in the hands of enthusiastic amateurs and second-user professionals. The digits following the M indicate, in all cases, the swing in millimetres, half the swing being the 'throw', more usefully described as the centre height. The range has been the subject of continuous development and, by the mid 1990s, consisted of the established and largely unchanged M300 model together with the M350, M450 and M500. By the late 1990s the last three machines became, with alterations to centre height, bed length and specification the M390, M460 and M550 - and two newer, larger machines were introduced (though with a short production life), the M600 and M750. Today the range continues in production but fitted with variable-speed drive (though the M300 continues to be available as a geared-head model) with models numbers of: V350, V390, V460 and V550. Whilst these articles cover the older, conventionally driven M Series lathes they do not concern the up-to-date models; an article about those will have to wait until they become, in some years' time, cheap enough to be accessible to the keener model and experimental engineer.
Now out of production, the M250 of 145 mm (5.7') centre height was designed to appeal to schools, training establishments, repair shops and those needing a strong, properly-built but compact lathe for light production work. Never as popular in the educational market as the more robust M300, as a second-hand machine it has enormous appeal to the more enthusiastic home user and hence demand usually outstrips supply with consequently high prices - but of course an excellent investment potential and an easy resale. It was available with a choice of either 500 mm or 750 mm (20' or 30') between-centres and had an induction-hardened bed as standard - but lacked the option of a detachable gap; interestingly, the width of the bed, at 190 mm over the ways, was greater than the centre height, a design feature that many years ago would only have been considered necessary for a lathe built to 'toolroom' standards.
Early models had 9 speeds from 40 to 1500 rpm (or, optionally, 80 to 3000) whilst the later (1998 on, approximately) M250 ran from 52 to 2000 rpm - the electric motor used on the slower model was 0.9 kW, with a 1.3 kW employed to drive the two faster machines.
Fitted with a hardened and ground No. 3 D1 Camlock nose, the 35 mm (1.3') bore spindle ran in Gamet Super-precision bearings with the hardened headstock gears lubricated by oil splash. On post 1989 machines the headstock had the same spindle nose as used in the Colchester Bantam Mk. 2, a No. 4.5 Morse taper into which fitted a hardened adapter sleeve to take it down to 3 Morse. The handbook and catalogue both contain incorrect information about this fitting stating, variously, 4 Morse and 5 Morse for the spindle bore. Some lathes have been found fitted with a useful spindle brake - an option not mentioned in all catalogues.
Available to cut either metric or English pitches, the screwcutting gearbox was available (at some considerable cost) with sets of conversion changewheels to change either to the other. The two standard gearboxes - that give either 33 inch pitches from 3 to 72 T.P.I. or 33 metric pitches from 0.25 to 8 mm - were fitted with an oil supply circulated by splash from the lower gears dipping into the lubricant and flinging it around.
Fitted with European Safety-Neurosis, full-circle smooth-faced handwheels, the carriage could be driven by either a fully guarded, 25 mm diameter leadscrew (in 6 mm or 4 t.p.i. pitch) or a power-shaft; however, the leadscrew was intended to be used exclusively for screwcutting whilst the torque-limiter protected power-shaft provided the normal sliding and surfacing feeds. The torque limiter is normally a reliable unit but, if dismantled and the stack of Bellville spring washers assembled incorrectly, it can give trouble. If yours is playing up or not releasing, or releasing too soon, the answer can be found here. Although the top slide had a traditional, parallel-type of screw-adjusted gib strip, the cross slide was fitted with what many regard as the superior tapered type, able to be set more accurately and provide much better support; both the cross and top slides, as well as the saddle, were fitted with locking screws.
Situated in a convenient (and hence safe position) the electrical controls were on a sloping panel immediately below the headstock; although the angle of the panel makes the switches much easier to use than if they were mounted on a vertical surface, the panel has no hood and, even though sealed with a wide gasket, it would probably be unwise to allow coolant to flood over it.
Well made, with a deep chip tray and a splash-back as standard, the stand could be supplied with a full-length kick-stop safety switch - though unfortunately the spindle was not braked (an interesting article about part of the electrical system and transformers can be found here). However, despite the cabinet's box-like structure, no shelves or cupboards were provided as standard in which store tools, accessories or work in progress. For an extra charge a cabinet door (part number 911001 for the short bed) could be fitted to take advantage of the space beneath the chip tray.
The short-bed M250 weighed approximately 365 kg (785 lbs) and the long-bed 457 kg (1008 lbs)..
Manual | Model No | Price |
---|---|---|
Ajax AJ210 Lathe Manual & Parts List | PMT100446 | £9.95 |
Ajax Centre Lathe Model 260E, operating & spare parts manual. | PMT100169 | £9.95 |
Alfred Herbert No 0 Capstan Lathe Operating & Setting Manual | PMT100337 | £9.95 |
Alfred Herbert No 1 Capstan Lathe Manual | PMT100175 | £9.95 |
Alfred Herbert No 2 Senior Monoslide Capstan Lathe Operators Handbook | PMT100422 | £10.95 |
Alfred Herbert No 2 Senior Monoslide Capstan Lathe Spares List | PMT100164 | £11.95 |
Alfred Herbert No 2D Capstan Lathe Manual | PMT100109 | £9.95 |
Alfred Herbert No 3 Capstan Lathe Operators Manual | PMT100476 | £10.95 |
Alfred Herbert No 4 Capstan Lathe Handbook | PMT100183 | £10.95 |
Alfred Herbert No 4 Capstan Lathe, Roller bearing head | PMT100185 | £10.95 |
Alfred Herbert No 4 Senior Capstan Lathe, Dial change Head | PMT100184 | £11.95 |
Alfred Herbert No 5 Senior Capstan Lathe Spare Parts List | PMT100356 | £11.95 |
Alfred Herbert No 5 Senior Preoptive Monoslide Lathe Manual | PMT100357 | £11.95 |
Alfred Herbert No 7B Combination Turret Lathe Operators Handbook | PMT100472 | £11.95 |
Alfred Herbert No.7 Preoptive Combination Turret Lathe Manual | PMT100430 | £11.95 |
Alfred Herbert No.7 Preoptive Combination Turret Lathe Parts list | PMT100431 | £11.95 |
Anilam Crusader 2L CNC Lathe Programming Manual | PMT100115 | £13.95 |
Atlas lathes manual for 10' & 12' lathes Models 3980, 3981, 3982, 3983, 3990, 3991.. | PMT100101 | £10.95 |
Binns & Berry Type TB 12.5' Centre Height Lathe Manual | PMT100370 | £10.95 |
Boxford (ACL) Advanced Computer Lathe programming manual. | PMT100230 | £11.95 |
Boxford lathe.....Know Your Lathe manual | PMT100189 | £10.95 |
Boxford Lathes Parts List...(Covers AUD BUD CUD & TUD etc.) | PMT100116 | £10.95 |
Boxford PC controlled CNC Mill/Lathe programming manual | PMT100139 | £11.95 |
Boxford TCL 160 CNC lathe manual | PMT100293 | £11.95 |
Boxford TL30 lathe manual | PMT100306 | £10.95 |
Britan Production Lathe Manual | PMT100126 | £10.95 |
Cazeneuve HB500, HB575, HB725 Lathes Operating Manual | PMT100364 | £12.95 |
Chester DB8 Centre LatheInstruction Manual | PMT100308 | £9.95 |
Chester Machines, The Craftsman Lathe Manual | PMT100135 | £9.95 |
Clarke CL430 & CL500MLathe manual | PMT100412 | £9.95 |
Clarke Model CL300M Lathe Manual | PMT100348 | £9.95 |
Colchester Bantam 1600 (MK2) lathe Manual | PMT100389 | £9.95 |
Colchester Bantam 2000 (MK 2) lathe manual | PMT100104 | £9.95 |
Colchester Bantam 800/1600 lathe manual | PMT100103 | £9.95 |
Colchester Chipmaster lathe manual | PMT100102 | £9.95 |
Colchester Colt Lathe Instruction manual with Parts List | PMT100236 | £9.95 |
Colchester Mascot 1600 lathe manual | PMT100113 | £9.95 |
Colchester Mascot Roundhead Lathe Manual | PMT100251 | £10.95 |
Colchester Mascot VS2000 lathe manual | PMT100255 | £14.95 |
Colchester Mascot VS2000 parts list | PMT100256 | £18.95 |
Colchester Master 2500 lathe manual | PMT100110 | £9.95 |
Colchester Master and Dominion Roundhead centre lathe manual | PMT100108 | £9.95 |
Colchester Master MK2Lathe Manual | PMT100171 | £9.95 |
Colchester Master VS3250 Variable Speed Centre Lathe Manual& Parts list | PMT100481 | £12.95 |
Colchester Mastiff 1400 lathe manual | PMT100114 | £9.95 |
Colchester Mastiff VS1800 parts list | PMT100257 | £18.95 |
Colchester Student 1800 centre lathe manual | PMT100107 | £9.95 |
Colchester Student 3100 lathe manual and parts list, | PMT100235 | £9.95 |
Colchester Student MK2 square head lathe manual | PMT100106 | £9.95 |
Colchester Student Round Head lathe manual | PMT100105 | £9.95 |
Colchester Triumph 2000 lathe manual | PMT100112 | £9.95 |
Colchester Triumph Anilam Crusader 2L CNC Lathe Manual & Parts List | PMT100238 | £11.95 |
Colchester Triumph Anilam Crusader 2L CNC Programming Manual | PMT100247 | £11.95 |
Colchester Triumph round head lathe manual | PMT100111 | £9.95 |
Colchester Triumph VS2500 lathe spare parts list | PMT100252 | £9.95 |
Colchester Triumph VS2500 operating and maintenance lathe manual | PMT100237 | £9.95 |
Crusader 2L Lathe RS232C User Manual | PMT100347 | £9.95 |
CVA Precision Lathe Manual | PMT100154 | £9.95 |
Dean, Smith & Grace Type 13 Lathe Manual | PMT100129 | £9.95 |
Dean, Smith & Grace Type 1609 Lathe Manual | PMT100163 | £9.95 |
Dean, Smith & Grace Type 1709 Lathe Manual | PMT100176 | £9.95 |
Dean, Smith & Grace Type 1810 Lathe Manual | PMT100173 | £9.95 |
Denford 280 Varispeed Lathe Manual | PMT100218 | £9.95 |
Denford Easiturn 3 CNC lathe Manual. | PMT100292 | £11.95 |
Denford Meteor CNC Lathe User Manual | PMT100353 | £11.95 |
Denford Mirac CNC Lathe Manual (Fanuc Control)............ | PMT100291 | £11.95 |
Denford Orac CNC Lathe Manual | PMT100128 | £11.95 |
Denford Orac CNC Programming Manual For The IBM & Nimbus | PMT100309 | £9.95 |
Denford Viceroy Lathe Manual | PMT100120 | £9.95 |
Denford Zeroturn CNC Lathe Manual | PMT100219 | £14.95 |
Elliott Concorde 460 Lathe manual | PMT100374 | £10.95 |
Elliott Concorde 460 Lathe manual | PMT100374 | £10.95 |
Elliott M Series Omnispeed Drive Lathes Manual | PMT100392 | £9.95 |
Emco Compact 5 Parts List | PMT100483 | £9.95 |
Emco Compact 8 lathe manual | PMT100123 | £9.95 |
Emco Unimat 3 Lathe Manual | PMT100122 | £9.95 |
Emco Unimat 4 Lathe Manual | PMT100444 | £9.95 |
Emco Unimat SL Lathe Manual | PMT100297 | £9.95 |
Emcomat 7/7L lathe instruction manual | PMT100269 | £9.95 |
EMI-MEC Auto Sprint E Automatic Lathe Manual | PMT100137 | £11.95 |
EMI-MEC Auto Sprint E Spare Parts Manual | PMT100330 | £9.95 |
EMI-MEC Series S automatic lathe manual | PMT100138 | £11.95 |
Hardinge CHNC lathe operating and programming manual. | PMT100229 | £11.95 |
Hardinge HC & HCT turret lathe manual | PMT100118 | £9.95 |
Hardinge HC & T Spare Parts Manual | PMT100331 | £9.95 |
Hardinge HLV-H lathe manual | PMT100119 | £9.95 |
Hardinge HLV-H Parts list. | PMT100202 | £9.95 |
Harrison 11' Lathe Manual (later taper drive spiindles) | PMT100273 | £9.95 |
Harrison 12' Lathe Manual (later taper drive spiindles) | PMT100227 | £9.95 |
Harrison 13' lathe Manual 6.5 inch centre L13) | PMT100228 | £9.95 |
Harrison 140 lathe manual....(later taper dive spindles) | PMT100341 | £9.95 |
Harrison 15' MK 3 Lathe Manual | PMT100327 | £9.95 |
Harrison 17' (L17) Lathe Manual | PMT100488 | £10.50 |
Harrison CNC M400 Crusader lathe Service Manual | PMT100346 | £9.95 |
Harrison L5 9' lathe manual (later taper drive spiindles) | PMT100226 | £9.95 |
Harrison L5/L6 Lathe Manual (early threaded spindles, 9', 11', 12') | PMT100131 | £9.95 |
Harrison L5A Lathe Manual | PMT100217 | £9.95 |
Harrison L6 MK 3 Lathe Manual | PMT100132 | £9.95 |
Harrison M250 CNC operating, maintenance & programming manual | PMT100180 | £18.95 |
Harrison M250 Lathe Manual | PMT100133 | £9.95 |
Harrison M300 Lathe Manual | PMT100134 | £9.95 |
Harrison M390 Lathe Manual | PMT100486 | £13.95 |
Harrison M400 Lathe Manual | PMT100225 | £9.95 |
Harrison M500 Lathe Manual | PMT100216 | £9.95 |
Harrison VS330TR lathe manual | PMT100248 | £9.95 |
Herbert Cri-Dan Type B, High Speed Threading Machine Operators Handbook. | PMT100451 | £9.95 |
Herbert Cri-Dan Type B, High Speed Threading Machine Spare Parts List | PMT100452 | £9.95 |
Hobbymat MD65 Lathe Manual | PMT100121 | £9.95 |
Kerry 11' Swing Lathe Service Manual | PMT100316 | £9.95 |
Kerry 5.5 Inch Lathe Type AG Inst. & Parts Manual | PMT100382 | £9.95 |
Lang Models 16D and 20D Lathe Manual | PMT100449 | £9.95 |
Maximat Mentor 10 lathe instruction manual | PMT100258 | £9.95 |
Maximat Mentor 10 lathe parts list | PMT100259 | £9.95 |
Maximat Super 11 lathe manual | PMT100127 | £9.95 |
Maximat V10P Lathe manual | PMT100258 | £9.95 |
Maximat V10P Lathe Parts List | PMT100259 | £9.95 |
Myford 254S Lathe Manual | PMT100487 | £10.50 |
Myford 280 centre lathe manual | PMT100240 | £9.95 |
Myford Dividing Attachment 2A.1495 Operating instructions | PMT100405 | £6.95 |
Myford Mini Kop Series 3 & 3A Hydraulic Copying Lathe Manual | PMT100401 | £15.95 |
Myford ML10 & Speed 10 lathe manual | PMT100212 | £9.95 |
Myford ML7 Lathe manual | PMT100124 | £9.95 |
Myford ML7-R lathe manual | PMT100213 | £9.95 |
Myford ML8 woodturning lathe manual | PMT100266 | £9.95 |
Myford quick-change gearbox manual | PMT100214 | £9.95 |
Myford Super 7 Lathe Manual | PMT100125 | £9.95 |
Pittler Turret lathes & Multi Spindle Autos | PMT100383 | £27.95 |
Pultra Micro Lathes Models 1750 & 1770 assembly drawings & parts List | PMT100408 | £9.95 |
Pultra Micro Lathes Models 1750, 1770 & 1590 Manual | PMT100323 | £9.95 |
Raglan 0.750 Inch Capstan Lathe Manual | PMT100433 | £9.95 |
Raglan 5 Lathe Manual | PMT100241 | £9.95 |
Raglan Littlejohn Lathe manual & parts list | PMT100329 | £9.95 |
Raglan Loughborough Training Lathe manual | PMT100435 | £9.95 |
Schaublin Model 102 VM Centre lathe Manual | PMT100393 | £9.95 |
Schaublin Model 70 & 80 Lathe Manual | PMT100342 | £9.95 |
Smart & Brown 1024 lathe manual | PMT100130 | £9.95 |
Smart & Brown 1024 Spare parts List & General Assembly | PMT100436 | £9.95 |
Smart & Brown model A Mk 1 & MK 2 lathe manual | PMT100224 | £9.95 |
Smart & brown model L Parts List | PMT100190 | £9.95 |
Smart & Brown Sabel, Sab, S Parts list | PMT100242 | £9.95 |
TOS SN 40/45/50 Lathe Manual | PMT100289 | £9.95 |
TOS SN40B/45B/50B lathe manual & Parts List | PMT100265 | £14.95 |
TOS SN40C/50C Lathe Manual & Parts List | PMT100304 | £14.95 |
Town Woodhouse 70 Junior lathe manual | PMT100268 | £9.95 |
Town Woodhouse Series 85 8.5 inch Lathe manual | PMT100429 | £9.95 |
TOYO Mini Lathe ML-360lathe manual | PMT100305 | £9.95 |
Union Graduate 6 Inch Woodturning Lathe | PMT100413 | £9.95 |
Ward 10 Combination Turret lathe Parts List | PMT100310 | £9.95 |
Ward 2A capstan lathe manual | PMT100221 | £9.95 |
Ward 2DB & 3DB capstan lathe manual | PMT100141 | £9.95 |
Ward 2DS,3DS, 2CA, 3CA Capstan Lathe Manual Later Squarehead Model | PMT100155 | £9.95 |
Ward 2DS/3DS/2CA/3CA Capstan Lathe Manualearly Model | PMT100140 | £9.95 |
Ward 7 Capstan Lathe Manual | PMT100440 | £9.95 |
Ward 7 Combination Turret Lathe Parts List | PMT100439 | £9.95 |
Ward 7D Prelector Combination Turret Lathe Parts List | PMT100437 | £9.95 |
Ward 7D Prelector Turret Lathe Manual | PMT100438 | £10.95 |
Ward 7DS capstan lathe manual | PMT100142 | £9.95 |
Ward 7DS Capstan lathe Parts List | PMT100390 | £9.95 |
Ward capstan & turret lathe operators manual | PMT100143 | £9.95 |
Willson 7.5' & 8.5' Centre lathes Manual | PMT100325 | £9.95 |
Willson Mark 1 slant bed lathe manual | PMT100301 | £9.95 |
Wyvern Model 4 WT Lathe Parts list | PMT100349 | £9.95 |
XYZ 1745 CNC & manually operated lathe manual | PMT100261 | £11.95 |
XYZ 1745 CNC & manually operated lathe programming manual | PMT100262 | £11.95 |
XYZ 410 CNC & manually operated lathe manual | PMT100263 | £11.95 |
XYZ 410 CNC & manually operated lathe programming manual | PMT100264 | £11.95 |
XYZ Prototrak LX2, TRL operating, programming, care manual | PMT100286 | £11.95 |