Anyone experienced with a 1920's South Bend lathe?

[GreenMachine87]

Seeking some knowledge / experience. A seller near me is selling an old South Bend metal lathe, unsure on precise model. Seller claims it's a 1927 mfg., about 6' long with 14" swing with 3 phase 220 motor... Says it needs new compound nuts for the cross feed. Asking $500. The price strikes me as pretty low, though the lathe is largely disassembled, can't tell if there are any issues other than the stated compound nuts.

Any idea if this is a fair price? Good price? Great deal?

Also, has anyone used or restored one of these? I am familiar with more modern industrial lathes (1980's), but never operated one this old. I know speed change is much more laborious, and it will obviously not have the more modern creature conforms and digital displays, but will this thing operate similarly otherwise or will it be much more of a hassle to run? Not looking for production, just some home shop tinkering and prototyping use. I just don't want to dedicate time and space to something that has limited functionality...

Any thoughts or advice would be appreciated.

Some of the posting pictures:





This looks clearly broken, but also looks like an easy weld job...

 

[APEowner]

Machine tool pricing varies widly with region. Where I am that price is either a good deal or right on the money. In the northeast part of the US that might be a bit high.

 

[Oregon rock crusher]

I have accumulated several very old lathes but have always tried to get the most complete, damage free machines possible and always with tooling. That one may be ok, it has a QC gear box and speed/feed changes are not that difficult on an old cone head. The broken handles are a big red flag for me. besides the difficulty in fixing or repacing them other damage could have resulted from that trauma. The price is not that bad though, depending on where you are of course. Probably worth that as a parts machine. How much of a project are you up for? A full restoration is quite the committment. Ed.

 

[GreenMachine87]

I have accumulated several very old lathes but have always tried to get the most complete, damage free machines possible and always with tooling. That one may be ok, it has a QC gear box and speed/feed changes are not that difficult on an old cone head. The broken handles are a big red flag for me. besides the difficulty in fixing or repacing them other damage could have resulted from that trauma. The price is not that bad though, depending on where you are of course. Probably worth that as a parts machine. How much of a project are you up for? A full restoration is quite the committment. Ed.

Good point on the damage... I think on that alone I will pass. I have time to wait, no urgent need to get one now.

 

[csp]

I wouldn't let a broken handle sway my decision, they break quite easily sticking out like they do.

If there are broken major components that don't break easily, then that's another story.

 

[bmwrd0]

Do you have three-phase? Not many people do, which is why some of the older lathes go so cheap.

 

[Cruzan80]

I would check the spindle thread and collet situation. Some olderachines have weird sizes.

 

[marinusdees]

Do you have three-phase? Not many people do, which is why some of the older lathes go so cheap.

A VFD will operate the 3-phase motor with the added benefit of variable speed. You can get a freq drive that you feed 120 volts single phase that spits out 240 volt three phase, and allows speed control. Or, a VFD that eats 240 volts single phase and spits out 240 volt three phase. Probably find a VFD for no more than the cost of a comparable single phase motor. If that's a consideration. I personally would prefer the VFD because it allows almost infinite speed control. The motor may not be "inverter rated" which means it may self-destruct IF run long and hard, due to overheating, but run it til it stops, buy another 3 phase motor.