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

[Johntena]

Last year, I was gifted this lathe with lots of accessories and tooling. It has been a great learning experience, and this thread helped me with dates. I removed the spindle so I could examine the Timken bearings and both are late 1938. Serial number is
T V 10133 S. I have no idea when the QCGB as added, but I am glad it was.

John Gallagher
Danville, CA

 

[wa5cab]

Congratulations and thanks. This is so far the earliest known 10F bearing date. Although not the lowest known serial number. It appears to have been well cared for.

FYI, the first true QCGB came out in late 1947. I don't know whether or not the QCGB's had a serial number.

 

[sandmanred]

I got a 10F about a year ago. TH42 serial 069936. Lots of grease and grime but mechanically in good shape. Came with just a 3 jaw chuck. I've almsot spent more picking up all the missing bits than I did on the lathe; 4 jaw chuck, steady rest, face plate, drill chuck with MT2, MT3 dead center, bullnose MT2. But it's a great little machine for me.

 

[wa5cab]

Thanks for the listing. I wouldn't suggest or request pulling the spindle just to check the dates engraved on the spindle bearing cups or cones. But if you ever do have reason to pull the spindle, please reference the model and serial number and give such dates as you can read along with which bearing they were on.

It is almost always cheaper to get accessories with the basic machine than to buy them one at a time later. All that I will request in addition is your name. I never have been able to understand why that isn't shown along with city/state/country.

 

[pontiac428]

I've never posted up my serial before. Mine's a babbit bearing head that I was told was produced in 1936 (which is possible for catalog year 1937). I think it's designation is H-48 (no data plate) with the serial number below.

 

[wa5cab]

Confirm first character in serial number stamping is "H" and that lead screw diameter is 3/4" except for left and right ends. If so, I would date it at early 1939. Earliest 10F was Summer or Fall of 1938 or later. Lowest 10F serial number in database is 009552. Highest 10D is 008635. And I have more supporting documentation.

 

[lated]

I just picked up a 6" Craftsman 101.07301, serial number 6L 026737.

 

[wa5cab]

OK. Thanks. If you wish, you may add things like acquisition date, price, source/location, general condition at time of purchase, accessories that came with it other than basic lathe, etc. Current best guess as to date of manufacture is 1953.

 

[Stephen Eyrich]

I have a Craftsman 12 X 36 that I purchased from a coworker back in the early 1980's. The model number is 101.07403 and the serial number is 15812. It came with a 6" 3-jaw chuck, 6" 4-jaw chuck, 4" 4-jaw chuck, 5" 3-jaw speed chuck, 8-1/2" face plate, steady rest, milling attachment, and lots of tooling. It is in pretty good shape for a machine tool older than I am. I have always kept it oiled and reasonably clean. I have made a lot of parts on it in the last 35+ years. The lathe book that came with it is copyrighted 1937 so I had always assumed that that was the date of the lathe also. After I have been browsing the Hobby Machinist site it would seem to be several years newer than I thought. I would love to have any information available about production date. Thanks.

 

[wa5cab]

Stephen,

The way that we commonly date Atlas 10" and early Craftsman 12" is from what are probably inspection dates engraved into the cups and cones of the Timken spindle bearings. Unfortunately, Clausing has no production data on any of the Atlas machines. It was lost or destroyed during one of the companies many moves. Engraving a date ceased in 1953 but serial number 015834 has 09/10/1946 as the latest date engraved on a bearing. So yours would be about the same age. We know that Atlas didn't practice FIFO (First In First Out) and there have been cases where the dates found on the two bearings were nearly a year apart. And a few cases of higher serial number but earlier date. But its the best method that we have. So until/unless you ever have another reason to pull the spindle so that you can also record the bearing dates, go with September, 1946 for the age of your machine.