Continued:
Often badged as a 'Bantam 1600', but also available with top speeds of 800 and 2000 rpm, the Mk. 2 Bantam can be recognised instantly by the 'gated' screwcutting gearbox control lever positioned in the bottom right-hand corner of the headstock's front face. A special version , designated Colt, was also produced during the 1980s. This was a machine with the centre height increased to 6.5 inches, a remarkable 40 inches (1000 mm) between centres and a choice of a single-speed range from 45 to 750 r.p.m or (with double-step pulleys on motor and input shaft) two ranges of 40 to 750 r.p.m. and 120 to 2000 r.p.m. Both inch and metric screwcutting was available with a leadscrew of 4 t.p.i. on the former and 6 mm pitch on the latter. The standard-fit gearbox on the Colt was, unaccountably, different to that on the contemporary Bantam and instead used the distinctive joystick control lever from a Mk. 1.
In the last years of production only Bantams with an increased centre height (6.5 inches) and a top speed of 2000 rpm were offered - but these machines should not be confused with the completely different Mk. 3 Bantam, which Colchester called the 'Bantam 2000' - and which was actually a Harrison M250. All versions of the Mk. 2 Bantam had a useful 1.125-inch spindle bore, 0.25' greater in diameter than the earlier model.
![Colchester bantam manual transmissions Colchester bantam manual transmissions](/uploads/1/1/9/3/119382200/257049306.jpg)