Atlas/Craftsman Serial Numbers and Bearing Dates (if applicable) For Database Entries

[wa5cab]

OK. That's probably 10 or 12 miles away. Not too bad except at rush hour.

 

[Jtsmith0272]

I just purchased a Craftsman 6" with the model and serial #'s pictured. I don't know how old it is or when it was purchased. The guy I bought it from got it from a guy who got it from another guy, etc. The model and serial are 101 27440 and serial 12L 040548. At this point that is all I know. It only came with 2 jaws, guy said he took it apart to clean the chuck and lost it somehow and never found it. Its also missing the gear for the quick change gear box on the side so I still have a few parts to look for.

 

[wa5cab]

Thanks. I'll add it to the database. I answered your other post in some detail.

 

[MTodd]

Robert,

I finally got a chance to resume work on my lathe restoration for a little bit today. I found the rear headstock bearing date.

Craftsman 101.07403, Serial #12702 S
Front/Right bearing date: 9/20/43
Rear/Left bearing date: 10/25/44

Also to note, there's a "3" engraved on the rear bearing in addition to the date. Does that bear any significance?

I was also happy that after about a total of 4 hours and roughly 1/2 can of PB Blaster, I finally managed to completely disassemble the tail stock. The quill was frozen in the bore. I'd wager to say that this lathe hasn't been used in 25-30 years.

Hopefully this information helps with the database.

-Matt

 

[wa5cab]

Thanks. Looks like you are making progress.

We've known for a long time that Atlas made no particular attempt to practice FIFO (First In First Out) on their spindle bearing inventory. So for dating purposes, all that we can really say is that any particular lathe could not have been made any earlier than the later of the two bearing dates. And our sample of Atlas 10F and Craftsman 12" machines with known bearing dates is pretty slim. Only about 15% have the dates reported. But if one sorts the 12" list on serial number (which we have to assume they didn't play games with), both of your bearing dates are out of sequence. My guess is that your machine wasn't made until the Spring of 1945, and at that time someone had been told to look for and flush out old inventory.

On the "3", there have been a few other reports. One lathe was reported with a "3" engraved on both cups and both cones. The only guess that I can think of is that it referred to the ANSI-ABMA bearing class, which (for no known reason) from worst to best runs 4, 2, 3, 0, 00.

In ads (where anything like that was mentioned), Atlas and Sears always claimed 0.001" accuracy (whatever you take that to actually mean). Worst case would have to be +/- 0.001", but it could mean 0.001" TIR. In either case, it would require Class 3 or better bearings. The tolerance on the Assembled Bearing Radial Runout for Class 2 is 0.0015" and for Class 3 is 0.0003".

 

[Diesel Doctor]

I would like to add two serial numbers to the database. My Atlas 10D model H54 is serial D3735S and was I told upon purchase that it was a 1936-37 vintage. This cannot be confirmed by any documentation. The second is my Atlas TH54 serial # 077023 with a date on the head stock bearings of 8/20/46. Thank you!

 

[gdgears]

I’m new to the forum, as well as machining. I was looking through this post to determine how old my lathe is, and figured you could use my information as well.
I have an atlas 10x36 Th42 serial number 072501 I’m in the process of restoring. The casting mark on the bed is 942. I paid $700

It came with:

· A bunch of old HHS and brazed carbide tooling
· Original lantern tool post (I replaced with a wedge tool holder)
· The original steady rest
· Two face plates and some dogs
· A Jacobs chuck for the tail stock, and two centers
· The original 3 jaw chuck, and all the drive gears

It has the original 1/3 hp motor (though I’m pretty sure it needs a new capacitor). The spindle has roller bearings, and the hole behind the switch is square.

 

[wa5cab]

GD (please set up your signature),

Thanks. I'll add you and your machine to the machine database.

Your lathe from what I can see in the three photos looks pretty good. FYI, it is a 10x24, not 10x36. The "42" in the TH42 model number and in the 942 bed casting and part number means 42" bed length. The headstock takes up about 12" and the tailstock about 6" so on an Atlas 9", 10" or 12" lathe, bed length minus 18 is the approximate distance between centers. In the rest of the model number, "T" means Timken bearings on the spindle (blank or no letter would mean Babbit bearings). "H" means Horizontal countershaft ("V" would mean Vertical). The only thing that I see wrong is the link belt on the spindle. The correct V-belt Industry standard number is 4L410.

If your motor is slow to start but does eventually, the culprit is probably the Start capacitor. If it won't start at all without manually pulling or twisting, it could be the capacitor and it could be the centrifugal switch.

In DOWNLOADS (read instructions for use in the Sticky area at the top of this Forum), you will find the latest version of the Parts Manual, the Atlas Technical Bulletin on the 10" Timken headstock, and some other useful information.

You should also acquire a copy of the Atlas "Manual of Lathe Operation and Machinists Tables". Published from 1937 through today (but the last Edition number was , there were 33 editions, the first 15 of which aren't numbered, but say just say "Copyright 1937" on the copyright page. The one that you want will have plastic binding. Chapter 7 will be bound in (not a loose supplement) and cover the Atlas F-Series 10". There will be no price on the Copyright page. And the lubrication photograph on page 6 (un-numbered, it follows page 5) shows a 10F with horizontal countershaft and rectangular switch plate. Unless someone here has an extra, best source will be eBay. But most eBay sellers don't know anything about what they are selling and seldom show photos of the important pages. You will have to write them and ask.

 

[wa5cab]

I would like to add two serial numbers to the database. My Atlas 10D model H54 is serial D3735S and was I told upon purchase that it was a 1936-37 vintage. This cannot be confirmed by any documentation. The second is my Atlas TH54 serial # 077023 with a date on the head stock bearings of 8/20/46. Thank you!

DD, sorry that this reply is late. Thanks for the two serial numbers. 003735 is the earliest 10" serial number yet reported.

However, there seems to be a couple of discrepancies with the 10D. The model number using one or two letters plus two digits came out with the 10F. For a 54" bed 10D, the model number would be 1054. And at least according to catalogs of the period, the horizontal countershaft came out with the first 10F's. If your 10D actually has a horizontal countershaft, it probably isn't original to the machine. According to catalogs and what other data we have, the horizontal countershaft didn't first appear for another two years and somewhere around 5800 machines.

Can you confirm that your 10D still has the stud mounted compound swivel instead of the pintle style?

 

[Diesel Doctor]

The 10D has a pintle style compound. Thanks!