Southbend serial number location?

[dirty tools]

Looks like the bed was reground
use a black light, the serial numbers should show

 

[SLK001]

Your lathe was probably used by South Bend. When they used their own products, serial numbers were not attached.

 

[graham-xrf]

I also have South Bend without any sign of a serial number where it should have been.

Here is my SB9C, with no serial number.


As I understand it, lathes that were used by South Bend in their own facilities were not given serial numbers. A serial number was only stamped on when one was shipped to a customer. Many were modified, or used a non-standard mix of features. They did not let any in "used" condition out into the wild. Well after the war, at some stage when South Bend changed ownership, all the old kit was sold off. My SB-9C is an oddball combination, with a underneath drive adaption.

 

[indexpaul]

I also have South Bend without any sign of a serial number where it should have been.

Here is my SB9C, with no serial number.
View attachment 401344

As I understand it, lathes that were used by South Bend in their own facilities were not given serial numbers. A serial number was only stamped on when one was shipped to a customer. Many were modified, or used a non-standard mix of features. They did not let any in "used" condition out into the wild. Well after the war, at some stage when South Bend changed ownership, all the old kit was sold off. My SB-9C is an oddball combination, with a underneath drive adaption.

Thanks for the info.