South Bend 9A 644R Advice on purchase?

[FriscoMustang]

Buy it! NOW

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Ok, Ok. I get it. Buy the lathe! LOL

 

[brino]

not worth losing a job to get a lathe. At least, I think that’s the right priorities...

I agree, but some days it's harder to tell.

......but if it was a mint condition Monarch for that price, I'd have to reconsider!

-brino

 

[FriscoMustang]

Update. Called owner and he almost sold it. We came to an understanding but gave me a scare. He did send me a pic of the tooling that will come with it. Steady rest, couple of live and dead centers, looks like a fair amount of cutters, and another 3 jaw. No 4 jaw that I can see or QCTP. Anything you guys see that I should get excited about?

 

[Jim F]

No jaws for the extra chuck, dog driver is a plus, extra lantern tool post, kinda a plus. tailstock wrench, plus.

 

[FriscoMustang]

And close up of the ways. May be too much crud to tell the tale.

 

[Jim F]

Don't see anything to scare me away.

 

[FriscoMustang]

Don't see anything to scare me away.

Thanks, Jim. Me either. I told him I was definitely bringing it home with me. Said he’d had 20 calls since we talked yesterday.

 

[Aaron_W]

Steady rest is a good thing, I see a lot of lathes sold without one. You can easily spend $150-200 to get one later, so there is 1/3-1/2 what you are paying right there.

It looks dirty and crusty but actually not bad, buy a bucket of your favorite grease cleaner and it will probably look pretty good when you get done with it. I would suggest telling the seller you will buy it at their price on Saturday barring obvious damage he didn't tell you about. At $450 I don't see you losing money even if it turns out to just be good for parts. I'm not seeing this as just a parts machine.

 

[FriscoMustang]

Steady rest is a good thing, I see a lot of lathes sold without one. You can easily spend $150-200 to get one later, so there is 1/3-1/2 what you are paying right there.

It looks dirty and crusty but actually not bad, buy a bucket of your favorite grease cleaner and it will probably look pretty good when you get done with it. I would suggest telling the seller you will buy it at their price on Saturday barring obvious damage he didn't tell you about. At $450 I don't see you losing money even if it turns out to just be good for parts. I'm not seeing this as just a parts machine.

That’s what I told him. I won’t be negotiating. I’m hoping not parts. Thanks, Aaron

 

[Jim F]

Start doing some reading at Vintage machinery in the South Bend section.
Looks like it is a post '45 machine due to switch location.
You will be able to find a build year when you get the serial #.