Mitsubishi Mark 1 — A Vintage Japanese Faceting Machine
Mitsubishi Mark 1 — A Vintage Japanese Faceting Machine
Mid-twentieth-century vertical-mast faceting equipment with a continuing collector base
The Mitsubishi Mark 1 is a vintage faceting machine manufactured in Japan in the mid-twentieth century, valued by collectors and a small number of professional faceters for its robust mechanical construction and the precision of its index and angle settings. The machine is no longer in production, but Mark 1 units remain in circulation in the second-hand market and continue in active use among faceters who prefer them to contemporary alternatives.
Construction and design
The Mark 1 follows the vertical-mast faceting layout common to Japanese and several other manufacturers' machines of the period. The mast carries the dop-arm assembly above a flat lap that rotates horizontally below; the cutter's hand holds and aligns the dop while the lap polishes the facet at the contact point. The mast incorporates the index gear (controlling the rotational position of the dop and therefore the angular distribution of facets around the stone) and the angle setting (controlling the elevation of the dop arm and therefore the pavilion or crown angle being cut).
Mitsubishi's Mark 1 construction is heavier and more rigid than many contemporary plastic-bodied faceting machines, with cast metal components throughout. The rigidity translates to consistent angle holding through the cutting cycle and to reduced chatter in fine polishing — both factors that experienced faceters cite as reasons for the continuing preference.
Position in the faceting community
The faceting community supports a substantial range of manufacturer preferences. The Mark 1, the Ultra Tec equipment from California, the Facetron, the Graves units, and a number of European and Asian alternatives all have committed users. The Mark 1 sits within the heritage-equipment side of the community, alongside vintage Imperial, Gem Master, and other older designs that retain their following despite no longer being manufactured.
Parts and modifications for the Mark 1 are available through specialist suppliers serving the vintage faceting market. The mechanical simplicity of the design means that most maintenance is within the capability of an experienced faceter; the consumables (laps, dops, polishing compounds) are interchangeable with most other faceting machines.
In the trade
For lapidaries and faceters considering equipment investment, the Mark 1 is one option among many in the second-hand market. The machine's long-term durability and the active community of users supports continued availability of parts and knowledge. For new entrants to faceting, contemporary equipment with manufacturer support is often the more practical choice; for experienced faceters with specific preferences, the Mark 1 remains in legitimate competition with newer designs.