My 1929 South Bend 9" lathe

[joelsdiener]

Hello All,

I purchased a 9" South Bend lathe that I understand was manufactured in 1929, and I understand there is a book needed to be able to set up this machine to cut different thread types. I was told by the seller (who had owned it for 40+ years) that he gave me a full set of gears, and it does appear that I have the full set. Can anyone tell me where I can find the book that has the information about how to set up this machine to cut threads? I will post a picture of this lathe a bit later, when i'm back home. Thanks all!

 

[LopezBart]

You may wish to start here:

http://www.vintagemachinery.org/pubs/1617/3789.pdf

https://www.amazon.com/SOUTH-BEND-Lathe-Manual-1906-1930s/dp/B018UR2LTC?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[RTM]

This library might get you close, hard to search on the phone.

Internet Archive: Digital Library of Free & Borrowable Texts, Movies, Music & Wayback Machine

archive.org

 

[Whitworth]

"South Bend How to Run a Lathe" book, old copies cheap off ebay.

 

[bmwrd0]

Here you go: http://vintagemachinery.org/pubs/detail.aspx?id=5795

Lots of printed South Bend stuff here:

South Bend Lathe Works - Publication Reprints | VintageMachinery.org

 

[tombell572]

As noted by Whitworth above, "How to Run a Lathe" published by South Bend is one of the best books around for learning lathe work. It's available both original copies or reprints on eBay. There should be a gear chart plaque attached to the lathe that will give you the gear setups for cutting just about any thread you want. Sounds like you have a change gear lathe so you will be manually setting up gear trains for threading as opposed to a "quick change" gearbox. No problem, a good way to learn the machine. Find some scrap aluminum round bar stock, read the book and start practicing. They're nice machines--have fun.

Tom B.

 

[WisJim]

When I got my 9" South Bend lathe, I discovered that the different editions of "How to Run a Lathe" vary slightly in details, so you may notice some things like spindle speeds or oil cup locations, that aren't exactly in agreement between whatever copy you end up with and your actual lathe. I notice the the change gear charts varied between editions, which is how I first noticed the variations. I have at least 4 editions, 32nd (1935), 34th (1938), 41st (1941), and 54th (1956). The 32nd, 1935 edition, is a reprint from Algrove Publishing, the reprint arm of Lee Valley Tools, and the reprint was titled "The Metalworking Lathe", although they do mention the original title also. My copies have 128 pages in the original editions and 160 in the reprint; I just looked online and find some reprints with many fewer pages.
Because of the variations between machines and editions of the book, the reprint on Amazon that @LopezBart mentioned above might be a good way to start, if you want to buy a hardcopy, in spite of the higher price of that reprint --the larger size and multiple years that it covers would be good.
The downloadable versions that @bmwrd0 mentioned is where I would start looking, it looks like there are enough versions available that you should find something close.

 

[paulsomlo]

There really isn't any "book" - watch the video posted above. You might want to register over on Practicalmachinist.com and post on the South Bend forum.

 

[john.k]

Be sure you are familiar with the spindle lubrication before using the lathe ,felts ,oil wicks and such ...........and yes,there is a dedicated South Bend Forum on Practical Machinist ................and never use the back gears to break loose the chuck mount thread ......this how gear teeth get broken.

 

[paulsomlo]

Be sure you are familiar with the spindle lubrication before using the lathe ,felts ,oil wicks and such ...........and yes,there is a dedicated South Bend Forum on Practical Machinist ................and never use the back gears to break loose the chuck mount thread ......this how gear teeth get broken.

If it was in fact built in 1929, there are no wicks for the spindle lube - it would use top oilers with a total loss system; they didn't use side mount oilers and wicks until 1938. 10 or 20 weight oil should be about right for the spindle.

@joelsdiener How about posting some pictures?

 

[WisJim]

There is also a South Bend group on IO Groups. https://groups.io/g/SouthBendLathe

 

[Maui]

OP, there are two rules that you should always follow when operating a metal lathe:
1.) Always wear eye protection, and
2.) NEVER wear gloves.

Maui

 

[joelsdiener]

Here you go: http://vintagemachinery.org/pubs/detail.aspx?id=5795

Lots of printed South Bend stuff here:

South Bend Lathe Works - Publication Reprints | VintageMachinery.org

Thank you very much! I was looking for a pdf to download!

 

[isb cornbinder]

"South Bend How to Run a Lathe" book, old copies cheap off ebay.

I found and bought three of the original South Bend, "How to run a lathe." These are often easy to find, for sale.
Interesting side: One of the How to run a lathe books was free to me. I found it in their stock with Google. The book store owner had posted it about 10 years earlier and forgot. She wanted to go stupid and told me she knew her inventory and I did not. I convinced her to look and I was right. "
What can I do to make this right. Will you accept my apology." I suggested that she send me the book and I will forgive her.

 

[isb cornbinder]

Hello All,

I purchased a 9" South Bend lathe that I understand was manufactured in 1929, and I understand there is a book needed to be able to set up this machine to cut different thread types. I was told by the seller (who had owned it for 40+ years) that he gave me a full set of gears, and it does appear that I have the full set. Can anyone tell me where I can find the book that has the information about how to set up this machine to cut threads? I will post a picture of this lathe a bit later, when I am back home. Thanks all!

If you use that lathe it will change your shop time for the better. The next machine you might look for is a milling machine.

 

[The Cobbler]

OP, there are two rules that you should always follow when operating a metal lathe:
1.) Always wear eye protection, and
2.) NEVER wear gloves.

Maui

and never loose clothing or aprons that can catch in lead screws etc . no rings and always be on the lookout for spinning parts that you can bump into
and, never leave the chuck key in the chuck.