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

[NCpatrol]

I've seen the hardwood cabinet in catalogs but I think this is the first lathe one that I've seen. I think that this is also the first 10F that I've seen with nameplate and serial number on the right end. Or at least the first reported. The hardwood cabinets were only in the 1943 and 1945 catalogs. Which agrees with the serial number which probably dates from 1945. None of the catalog photos of complete lathes are at a good angle for showing the right end of the bed. But none of those that are close seem to show any nameplate. I'll post a question in the regular section.

Well, this is interesting...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Atlas-Craft...d3e23b851:g:46wAAOSw3h1ZP-xw&autorefresh=true

 

[NCpatrol]

And another one.
http://www.flywheelmachinetools.com/Hobbieatlasqc42turret.html

 

[rkowolik]

I hadn't previously noticed it probably because looking back I see that almost all age related questions the past year have been for 12". In the combined machine database (408 entries to date) there are only 74 10" entries, a third of which show no serial numbers. And there is a large jump or blank range in the 10" serial numbers. They meander up to a little over 8000 and then skip to over 17000. Plus we only have three supposed bearing dates, one of which does not track with the other two. Meaning that it is about 13000 smaller than one with almost the same date.

Anyway, anyone with a 10" who doesn't remember for sure entering your machine into the old Yahoo database or giving it to me recently, please send me the model number (which includes bed length), serial number (including any prefix or suffix letters), type (10F, 10D, etc.), and if it has Timken bearings, the bearing dates if you know them. If no bearing dates, then anything that would give the original purchase date (no guesses, please).

Thanks, Robert D.

I just re-acquired my 10D from my uncle at least I'm pretty sure is a D, no cross feed drive. The Serial Number is: D7913S

 

[wa5cab]

And another one.
http://www.flywheelmachinetools.com/Hobbieatlasqc42turret.html

Interesting. The second lathe has the rare tailstock turret. From the photo showing the drawer pulled out, it apparently has no drawer slides.

 

[wa5cab]

I just re-acquired my 10D from my uncle at least I'm pretty sure is a D, no cross feed drive. The Serial Number is: D7913S

RK,

What is the length of your bed (choices are 36", 42". 48" or 54").

No power cross feed is a necessary but not sufficient criteria. However, the "D" prefix to the serial number is definitive. If you can find it inside the headstock, you'll also find that the casting number begins with "10D".

 

[NCpatrol]

Interesting. The second lathe has the rare tailstock turret. From the photo showing the drawer pulled out, it apparently has no drawer slides.

I've reached out to him to see if he'll take some more pictures so i can try to reproduce the drawer and door, though I can probably get very close from what info I already have. I suspect the back end of the drawer is slightly taller than the opening to catch the "lip" at the top of the opening and prevent it from sliding all the way out.

He's also got a horizontal mill on a much more beat up version of the same cabinet.

 

[wa5cab]

Yes. There were three models sold. The small one with drop door and no drawer was sold for use under either the mill or the shaper. And two lengths of the lathe one were offered. One for the 36" and 42" length beds and one for the 48" and 54" ones. I've never seen even a photo of the shorter lathe one and can only assume that it had both door and drawer as the catalog ads don't say that it doesn't.

I'm sure that the drawer would have had something on the rear panel to prevent accidentally pulling it all of the way out. And a taller rear panel would have been the simplest.

 

[RMTool]

I just acquired a 12" Craftsman 101.07403 metal lathe with a 42" bed. It is the "Deluxe" model. I am in the tear down/cleaning/inspection process now. What I have learned so far:
Both timken bearings engraved with 5/30/46 dates and class 3. Serial number on the ways is 15616. I am assuming it is a 1946 model, but maybe the serial number suggests later?

The lathe is in excellent shape. I bought it extremely dirty, but all the pre-inspection pointed to a good machine. As I disassemble and clean, it appears that the lathe was not used very much at all!

 

[wa5cab]

I'm fairly certain it uses the original reversing box. I actually found the article on another site. I'm positive this is the same exact file that the hard copy that came with my machine was printed from.
http://vintagemachinery.org/pubs/51/7158.pdf

It appears that you actually use the full set of original Atlas change gears on a new lead screw shaft extension. All the changing is done through the 7 added 32-tooth gears.

I meant to comment yesterday about the standard gear set and the reversing. A complete gear set for 10" or 12" from the 10F and 101.07403 on was 15. Plus 3 more if it has a tumbler. If you look at photos 3, 4 and 6 just below the spindle gear, you will see the two tumbler gears and the hex head of the shoulder bolts that attach them to the tumbler. Below them if you know what you are looking for, you can see the stud gear. The lathe in the MI photos is a babbit bearing 12". From the belt cover, most likely a 101.07383. To the left of the belt cover in some of the photos you can see the forked bracket that the belt tension rod (missing) sits in. I think that the belt tension rod has been moved to the right end of the countershaft. The knob and rod in that location is too long to be the back gear engagement lever.

On a 10F without factory QCGB the stud gear is driven by the spindle gear instead of by the tumbler gears. On a 10D and earlier, there is no stud gear and you would need the 10-1273 Template in order to drill the hole for the stud. But on a 10", I think you're correct in saying that the lead screw direction is still controlled by the FWD-REV gear box.

 

[wa5cab]

I just acquired a 12" Craftsman 101.07403 metal lathe with a 42" bed. It is the "Deluxe" model. I am in the tear down/cleaning/inspection process now. What I have learned so far:
BothTimken bearings engraved with 5/30/46 dates and class 3. Serial number on the ways is 15616. I am assuming it is a 1946 model, but maybe the serial number suggests later?

The lathe is in excellent shape. I bought it extremely dirty, but all the pre-inspection pointed to a good machine. As I disassemble and clean, it appears that the lathe was not used very much at all!

Thanks. Your serial number and dates are consistent with several others with similar dates. So late 1946 is probable.

You are only about the third one to report or show a photo with a "3" engraved.

Is there a letter "S" engraved following the serial number digits? What about any prefix letters?