How do we id an old South Bend lathe?

[brino]

Whew, I am glad there were no injuries!

I have a CD of a bunch of old Southbend info. I should be able to find a PDF with that catalog number in it.
Sometimes the same catalog numbers were used for years.
Usually I try to narrow down the year of manufacture first.
That can usually be done by looking up the serial number on the WS Wells site linked above by @Herk.

On every Southbend I have seen the serial number is stamped into the flat near the ways on the far right end, here:


-brino

 

[blu73]

brino,
Yeah, he found the number where you show. It is 21053 and looks like a 1919 year of manufacture if the numbers are sequential through that era. The links provided above were certainly helpful.
Russ

 

[brino]

Hi Russ,

I did NOT find a 1919 catalog yet, but I found two pages of the 1920 catalog that has this:




By the way, there are several different PDF copies of the original Southbend "How to Run a Lathe" on our downloads section:

3rd edition (1914): https://www.hobby-machinist.com/resources/sb-how-to-run-a-lathe-1914-3rd-edition-pdf.2890/
15th edition: https://www.hobby-machinist.com/resources/sb-how-to-run-a-lathe-19-15th-edition-20-pdf.532/
27th edition (1966): https://www.hobby-machinist.com/resources/sb-how-to-run-a-lathe-1966-27th-edition-56-pdf.2909/

Of course there's also 10 more pages of Southbend info there, too. Have a look, maybe something would be useful.

I will keep poking around and let you know in this thread if I find anything.

-brino

 

[brino]

Hi Russ,

A couple more points.......

The 4-step cone pulley gives you four different spindle speeds.
However, the "back gear" gives you four more!

This lever:

is the back gear lever.
When it is engaged (pulled forward) you must also dis-engage the bull gear lock pin here:


Watch around time 7:18 into this video:

-brino

 

[blu73]

brino,

Thanks for the added info. The video is interesting. When you look at how poorly shop safety was practiced back then, it certainly gives one an idea of how far we've advanced in that area.

I ran into a problem with the new links you provided. When I click on one, I get a message saying "You do not have permission to view this page or perform this action." What might I be doing wrong? Do I need to upgrade my membership somehow?

Russ

 

[brino]

I ran into a problem with the new links you provided. When I click on one, I get a message saying "You do not have permission to view this page or perform this action." What might I be doing wrong? Do I need to upgrade my membership somehow?

Hmmmm, I do remember something about post count contributing to access.
I'll see if I can find some details....

-brino

 

[blu73]

It's Russ again. I did some poking around the site and found the area showing what is allowed when one makes a donation. Very reasonable.