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Can anyone recommend modern equivalents for the Monotype Supercaster Varigear unit? We are in the process of recommissioning a second caster at the The Printing Museum, Wellington, NZ. Original specs:
Shell Mex adnd BP Vitrea 79
Castrol Alpha 817
Mobil 600W Super Cylinder Oil
M.P. Comes to mind, (since a long long time ago) Castrol E.P. 90 was used = Heavy duty Gear oil. Although the Varigear was Generally, not standard fitment to the Supercaster, it was an afterthought lifted from the Composition Machine normally.
Plus again Generally, some time after the” Suez Crisis” `66 ish, Oil,s for the Supercaster Main gearbox,,the Camshaft box, (both accessed through the square cover inboard of the starting handle) the Camshaft splash tray on the Composition M/c.& The Varigear Unit, *** ALL ordered direct from Monotype U.K. boxed in 4 x 1 Gallon,s usually,! originated from “Duckhams” with just *Monotype* Stickers atop.
Duckhams, still around, but maybe taken over, may just trawl Their Archives, Give them a try possibly.
***Their was an exception to Lube oils for Monotype, again maybe only U.K. the Pure unrefined CASTOR OIL, for Strip product, on the SUPER, i.e. Leads, Rules & Girder furniture, always arrived, with just, supplied by Monotype stickers on.!
For a few of us, still vertical rather than horizontal, there is some terrific recollections of that time period, mid 60,s and later.
Your Bert Munro, from Invercargill, Down Under had just Ripped up the Bonneville Salt Flats, and some of the Boy Racers, (no names!!) had this bright idea to use unrefined Castor Oil liberated from The Monotype Dept, (again no names) to get the same Smell as from the Big Boys Byke,s running CASTROL *R* Road Racers, but it DID NOT work just Gummed up the Valve gear, exactly the same as the Strip Moulds on the SUPER.
I pictured one such on B.P. a year since, Supercaster Mould, perfect condition, gummed up with Castor oil stored for 30/40 years ago. Good Luck. Mick.
P.S. There is a Gent in (I think/remember) N.S,W. Oz, with a container full of Supercaster,s and or Parts maybe traceable, maybe with, info, but HOW! sorry, pass.
600W cylinder oil “rang a bell” from my days with steam engines (another hobby). And it looks like Mobil 600W Super Cylinder Oil is still made
http://www.mobil.com/USA-English/Lubes/PDS/GLXXENINDMOMobil_Cylinder_Oil...
Looks like there is a Mobil dealer in Auckland
http://alliedlubricants.co.nz/
I am in Canada so that’s about all the help I can give. Good luck!
Two websites give lists of oils, maybe helpful, maybe not.
http://www.alembicpress.co.uk/Typecaster/Oils.htm
and
http://bill.welliver.org/space/letterpress/monotype/Monotype%20Lubricant...
Patrick, Antwerp, Belgium