SB lathe questions,

[S.N.]

Good afternoon. I am a new member and have a couple questions on a rescue lathe I am working towards setting up.
1st off my research indicates a 1929 model O. Assuming I am correct is the 1hp 3 phase motor worth buying a static converter or should I be replacing it. P.O. said it was hooked up and used a lot when he got it from his brothers machine shop. It sat idle for years under his ownership for years and he was going to scrap it when a friend told me about it. Any help or thoughts on this giant would be helpful. 16"x 6' catalog number 39 2-C on brass plate. Lathe number 44898 on bed ways. Westinghouse ac type cs motor 1 hp 220volt 1100 rpm 3.2 amp 3 phase. Looks old enough to be legit. Any help appreciated.

 

[johnoder]

Look in member swells posts about his web page - where he shows his list of catalogs going on back to 1913 or so

Most SB that old did not come with motors anyway - they were "line shaft" machines mostly, especially a 16", so any motor and a way to make it "go" is entirely up to you.

All that is really important is that the spindle speeds are fairly close to the original

 

[S.N.]

Look in member swells posts about his web page - where he shows his list of catalogs going on back to 1913 or so

Most SB that old did not come with motors anyway - they were "line shaft" machines mostly, especially a 16", so any motor and a way to make it "go" is entirely up to you.

All that is really important is that the spindle speeds are fairly close to the original

I wondered if that was so. The motor looks old but i felt a 1929 model might have been line shaft.
My fear was is 1hp enough for this lathe considering the loss of a static phase converter which was the direction I was headed. Thanks for the help. SN

 

[johnoder]

I wondered if that was so. The motor looks old but i felt a 1929 model might have been line shaft.
My fear was is 1hp enough for this lathe considering the loss of a static phase converter which was the direction I was headed. Thanks for the help. SN

Catalog 94 which will be on Steve Wells web page - says the motorized 16s have 1 HP motors - and its from 1934

 

[johnoder]

I wondered if that was so. The motor looks old but i felt a 1929 model might have been line shaft.
My fear was is 1hp enough for this lathe considering the loss of a static phase converter which was the direction I was headed. Thanks for the help. SN

Look at the 1 HP 16" in catalog 94 here

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjxmbOv_-f5AhULg2oFHW87D1sQFnoECAcQAQ&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wswells.com%2F&usg=AOvVaw1riONgdccx6bjDs7OdWLKQ

 

[dalmatiangirl61]

You have options besides static converter, there is rotary converter, vfd, and phase perfect if money is no obstacle. I know a guy that has gotten by with a static converter for 20 years, his machines make a funny noise on startup, but seem to work ok, but most of his work is pretty small too. I run a rotary, the noise bothers me. Only vfd's I've been around had a high pitched whine, it bothered me too. Pick your poison carefully..

 

[S.N.]

You have options besides static converter, there is rotary converter, vfd, and phase perfect if money is no obstacle. I know a guy that has gotten by with a static converter for 20 years, his machines make a funny noise on startup, but seem to work ok, but most of his work is pretty small too. I run a rotary, the noise bothers me. Only vfd's I've been around had a high pitched whine, it bothered me too. Pick your poison carefully..

Thanks for the information. Our vocational schools machine shop instructor started to give me oprion and liked vfd. I do not want to spend a pile on this old of a lathe especially until it's under power enough to see what I have. Static appeared to be a pretty cheap seat in.

 

[Technical Ted]

I like 3 phase motors with a VFD on my belt driven lathes for the variable speed ability. Very, very handy. You might find it best to replace the motor with a newer 3 phase motor that is rated for variable frequency.

Ted

 

[S.N.]

Thank you all for the responses. I lost my dad and everything just stopped for a few weeks. My US made static phase converter came it. My motor turned over hard so I took it apart and cleaned it with mineral spirits and it spun freely by hand. I hooked it up to my static converter and it hums but does not run. It was under power 10 years and has been kept inside so that was a bit of a suprise. With not belts attached the outcome was the same. I am attaching pics of the motor and data plate for advice. My guess is it's an open winding. My converted is a 3/4 to 5 hp model and I thought about upping the hp rating at the converter but knowing nothing about such things have chosen to read and inquire.

 

[S.N.]

Johnoder. You nailed it. The motor and lathe is a unmolested 1929. Your link is the exact set up I have. This only makes me more determined to get the motor fixed and leave it original.