Alfred Herbert Ltd

I do agree with flapdoodle, I worked at Herberts from 66 for just under 10 years. I recall the rushed effort trying to play catch up with NC machines. For a while I was transferred to the test bay (which for an apprentice was always a good gig) they were testing the 2M and 3M plugboard machines, my easy job was a nightmare as oil leaks were everywhere and a lot of the fittings were buried in the castings meaning to fix half the machine had to come apart. About 2 years later we went on a service call to a factory in Northern England to fix a 5A auto the shop was pretty much all Herbert machines, I noticed they had a 2M lathe, after fixing the 5A, I got talking to the shop foreman and asked him how he liked his 2M lathe. His comment was never worked right from day 1 and they could not even use it.

It seems strange now but at the time I worked at Wickmans making machine tools, there were more Herbert capstans and banks of drills than any other machine. The main factory had 2D's, 5's and 9B'S. There was even a bar feed 2D in the training school. Did Herberts make any Radial Drilling machines?

Yes, have a look at 'herbert drill' on ebay for example.

Hi, they are pillar drills. Asquith made both 4ft and 8ft radial arm drills. Never seen a Herbert one

There is an advert on ebay: It depicts an antique advert from 1909 for an 'Alfred Herbert Ltd; Radial Drill' (the advert is for sale at £10.95). Admittedly, it doesn't look much like an 'Asquith' et al. A search for 'Images' does bring up some AH 'badged' radial drills, but these are clearly 'Archdale' machines?

Hi Dreamtime Our "light machine shop" had a row of about 7 or 8, 3ft 6in Archdales, they were pretty versatile when using block fixtures with removable drill bushes. Cannot find a Herbert radial drill anywhere

I used to work at Herberts in the Secondhand and Reconditioning Dept. for Mr Willison + W Coker and dealt with Archdale machinery amongst others. I daresay there are a few members who would remember those names (but going back to the 60's).

During the 50's and early 60's Archdale machines was owned by Staveley. Herberts were a sales agent for all Archdale machines, but were replaced by Asquith.