Mikron Lathes The T90 (T standing for "tour" - French for lathe) was imported into the UK in fairly large numbers and like the Schaublin 70 and 102 (which took a much greater share of the market) were most common in the turret lathe form. Toolmakers lathes are consequently fairly rare and because of their age are very often rather tired. The T90 lathe was complemented by a superb small milling machine the F75 (F standing for "fraiseuse" - French for milling machine). Originally machines were not painted but finished in bare cast iron for the early machines or what appears to be a metal sprayed finish on post-war machines. The Mikron T90 lathe had, as the name implied, had a centre height of 90mm and admitted 400mm between centres. Of particular note on both the lathe and horizontal milling machine was the exquisitely made epicyclic back gearing which was incorporated into the headstock pulley. Both the lathe and the mill employed the same 20mm collet which appears to be the same as the standard Schaublin W20 (W20-4) collet, however it is slightly longer and employs either a 1.25mm or 2mm pitch pitch thread. These collets were only used on Mikron machines and are virtually unobtainable on the second hand market, and new are very expensive (£60+) and only available in a limited number of bores. However, the standard W20-4 collet can be employed with a new or modified draw tube. Mikron tailstocks were produced in a variety of forms, the most useful of which is the screw operated version. Like Schaublin, Mikron employed their own special taper in the tailstock barrel. Revolving centres are still made by Gepy for these machines. The following is an extract from the 1940 Mikron catalogue. Late bench mounted Mikron T90 Late "reinforced" type carriage with fully covered ways   The Ultimate Mikron Outfit