Help with Serial number card

[Investigator]

Can someone help me understand ll the information here:

 

[silverhawk]

Across the top is the date the order was received, Feb 9, 1942. Middle right is the date it was shipped, April 8, 1942. It was sold to "American Twist Drill & Tool" co in Michigan through a dealer named "Lee Machinery". What you are MOST interested in (probably) is the model number, called a "catalog number" by South Bend. That is 117-C (right below the dealer info). A 117-C appears to be a 16". Most 9" lathes with a "c" designation did not have a quick change gear box, but in your case, that "C" represents a 6' bed, and you should have a QCGB (quick change gear box). It was shipped with a 3-phase, 220v 2-speed, reversible motor. The UMD under drive actually means it was an Underneath Motor Drive (meaning you should have had a cabinet along with it that had the motor in it). Sounds like you have a monster there.

Over on Vintage Machinery, someone posted some pictures of a 117-c . In 1952, South Bend put out another catalog for the 16" tool room lathes that might be of interest to you. Again, Vintage Machinery put that online in PDF form, perhaps it is your lathe. It is at http://vintagemachinery.org/pubs/1617/16550.pdf.

 

[Investigator]

what does the card tell me about the apron, taper, head stock and tail stock? What are those codes? what do they mean?

 

[silverhawk]

what does the card tell me about the apron, taper, head stock and tail stock? What are those codes? what do they mean?

Not a great deal. It is actually a design code. Think of it as a version or "revision" code. The first initial design of the part was given a "100", the second version was "101", and the third was "102". Basically, your bed, tailstock and apron were the initial design of those particular parts (100). Your saddle, compound rest and gear box were a second iteration (101). Your headstock is what went through the most redesigns. The code of "110" indicates 10 revisions to it. Because you have a "100" bed, and the headstock is "110", you will probably realize the revisions were fairly interchangeable.

If you are shopping for parts and want to keep it as original as possible (e.g. if you were going to some sort of South Bend restoration competition), you can find parts. For that, you will typically preface that number with a letter code (e.g. "T" for tailstock, "A" for apron, etc.)