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Looking for the model of this South Bend lathe
- Thread starter Optiman
- Start date
- Replies 14
- Views 1,356
Shipp
Aluminum
- Joined
- Jun 23, 2022
- Location
- Northern California
South Bend Lathe Serial Card
Grizzly Industrial, Inc. is a national retail and internet company providing a wide variety of high-quality woodworking and metalworking machinery, power tools, hand tools and accessories. By selling directly to end users we provide the best quality products at the best price to professionals...
johnoder
Diamond
- Joined
- Jul 16, 2004
- Location
- Houston, TX USA
Made in early forties. Could be any of them listed in this early forties catalog
SLK001
Stainless
- Joined
- Feb 8, 2015
- Location
- Coral Springs, FL USA
Let me get out my crystal ball and conjure up some pictures of YOUR lathe.
neanderthal mach
Hot Rolled
- Joined
- Dec 18, 2008
- Location
- princeton b.c.
morsetaper2
Diamond
- Joined
- Jul 2, 2002
- Location
- Gaithersburg, MD USA
I'll guess a 13". Possibly a 14.5"??
Is there a catalog # listed on any of the nameplates? More photos would help.
Is there a catalog # listed on any of the nameplates? More photos would help.
johnoder
Diamond
- Joined
- Jul 16, 2004
- Location
- Houston, TX USA
QC tag has 14 1/2 and 16 on it if one of those as shown in the catalog suggested above
Ohio Mike
Titanium
- Joined
- Oct 30, 2008
- Location
- Central Ohio, USA
You can only get the model from serial by requesting the production card from South Bend. The only benefit to that is you get the original owner and supplied equipment. You can derive the catalog number by measuring the swing and the bed length. We don't have much to go on but we can guess.Since its a single tumbler gear box that would date the machine to the 1940s. Based on the proportions of the machine I would say its a 14-1/2" or 16" inch lathe.
16" Lathe would be a #117 or #8117 for Tool Room
14-1/2" Lathe would be a #183 or #8183 for Tool Room
Catalog number is then suffixed by a letter B/C/D etc with those meaning 5,6, or 7 foot bed respectively
16" Lathe would be a #117 or #8117 for Tool Room
14-1/2" Lathe would be a #183 or #8183 for Tool Room
Catalog number is then suffixed by a letter B/C/D etc with those meaning 5,6, or 7 foot bed respectively
It’s not a 13, which has a narrower base bell and a two-bolt cap over the front spindle bearing.
Could be a 16, but I’m thinking it’s a 14-1/2.
It’s the standard version, not the toolroom version. The toolroom version would have a taper attachment with a slotted connecting bar instead of the solid chip guard over the cross slide screw that this on has.
The apron clutch has been upgraded to the lever type. My 1945 14-1/2, which has a later serial number, uses a star wheel clutch.
I see a lever collet closer. If the collets are 4C, it’s a 14-1/2. The 16 used 5C collets. Later 14-1/2’s came with a bigger spindle and also used 5C collets, but that was later than mine and therefore later than the one pictured above.
It’s a six-foot bed, so I’m betting it’s a 183C.
Rick “the least common of South Bend S-series lathes” Denney
Could be a 16, but I’m thinking it’s a 14-1/2.
It’s the standard version, not the toolroom version. The toolroom version would have a taper attachment with a slotted connecting bar instead of the solid chip guard over the cross slide screw that this on has.
The apron clutch has been upgraded to the lever type. My 1945 14-1/2, which has a later serial number, uses a star wheel clutch.
I see a lever collet closer. If the collets are 4C, it’s a 14-1/2. The 16 used 5C collets. Later 14-1/2’s came with a bigger spindle and also used 5C collets, but that was later than mine and therefore later than the one pictured above.
It’s a six-foot bed, so I’m betting it’s a 183C.
Rick “the least common of South Bend S-series lathes” Denney
Last edited:
The name plate is worn out, basically scratched off and can not be read.
Thank you I appreciate your help.
Thank you, if all else fails we could try using this information to order any parts we need.
SLK001
Stainless
- Joined
- Feb 8, 2015
- Location
- Coral Springs, FL USA
If all else fails, you could get out your ruler. Measure from the center of the spindle (put in a center if you have to) to the closest point on the bed. Multiply that number by 2 and you have your lathe swing. With the swing, look at the models with that swing in the catalog that John posted for you.
