2nd opinion, well, it was a really great gift from Andrew Mawson, I'm pleased to have it, looking forward to it running!
Krv, The compact 8 is really useful, it's in really good shape, it was missing the motor when I got it, it came out of a school, apparently the kids had deliberately locked the motor an left it running and burnt it out. It still had the "cosmolene" on the bed ways! It's a real complement to my other big lathes!
All the best, Matthew.