Colin Parks wrote:Re. lever frames, it has been on my mind and I understand that there is a redesign of the Society 5-lever frame unit in the offing, with an interlocking kit also to be offered. (Hope that is a. correct and b. not confidential!) So that is the way I will eventually go.
Colin,
Mostly correct, and not particularly confidential, although the development hasn't been announced yet.
The bit that is not quite right is that this is not a redesign of the well-established and regarded SHAG lever frame. That is staying exactly as it is, and available for all those who use it.
The new frame is a variant of it and will sit alongside it in the Society Stores. It's been designed by Howard Bolton, and has a couple of enhancements to the design of the existing frame. However the key element is that it is designed to interface with an etched mechanical interlocking system that Howard has also designed. I understand that the two frames are to the same dimensions, so it should be possible to mix-and-match, or replace the original frame, easily if needed.
Because there is extra metal required for the design of Howard's version, there will be an increase in price (no, not yet known until we have the invoice come through) but that is in part offset by the use of the etched handles rather than having to buy the additional turned steel ones. Depending on the workload of the etchers for this, we do hope to have the new lever frame available at Scalefour North (another good reason to come along, as though you needed one).
Colin Parks wrote: By good fortune, the operating rods which emerge on the side of my [central] baseboard are pitched at 10mm, which was a flying guess, but it is the same spacing as the Society's lever frame, making it easier for installation of a 20-lever frame in the future.
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When I wrote my article on building the Society lever frame for MRJ 225, I produced a table of the key dimensions. If this pastes correctly, they are:
Depth: 47mm
Height: 130mm
Lever throws: 5mm (driven end)
75mm (handle end)
Lever spacing: 10mm
Cheers,
Paul Willis
Deputy Chairman