CB,
I'll add a bit, if I may.....
Now that you've made the decision (the correct one, from what I've read here), it would be a nice courtesy to join the 'practicalmachinist' internet board (its free, just 'register' with a 'stage name') and let the folks in the South Bend forum there know about that cute little South Bend.
That one may be quite desirable to a South Bend collector, as it is the relatively uncommon 'long bed' version of the 9" 'A' model.
The 9" South Bend is a 'miniature' lathe, of very limited capability, but capable of good work on small parts. Many were purchased by hobbyists who made teeny-tiny model steam engines for amusement, and many were purchased by automotive shops, as they were the least expensive small lathe which would do the common job of refinishing starter and generator commutators.
The later '10K' model of South Bend lathe was an 'improved' version of the 'classic' 9", with better spindle bearings, and 1/2" more centre height for nominal 10" swing.
Now that you've the Rockwell lathe (which, really, is also a miniature, just a significantly better grade of miniature than is the little South Bend), you would do well to post its photo and a general query about it in the 'antique machinery' area of the 'practicalmachinist' internet board.
Some of the folks there would have copies of the original manual, and would know of any source for parts, should there be any, these days. (and, yes, there may well be some old 'dealers' stocks' of maintentence parts still in existence......somewhere)
As a group, they are quite helpful with new lathe owners, and will provide useful advice, based in many years of experience with machine setup and alignment, details which are ever so important, but not really 'obvious'.
Fortunately, with a machine of that size, having it all apart (stamp or etch 'match marks' anyway, before disassembly), cleaning it well, and refinishing, should you choose to, then reassembling and correctly aligning it will be simple and easy.
A 'word of warning'........many miniature lathes have a critical design error, which was common, years ago, in that they have four or more bolts holding them to a base or stand. It was simply 'understood' by the makers that they, or subsequent owners, would shim under the mounting points as necessary to avoid putting a 'twist' in the bed.
Over time, lathe benches or stands will warp, twisting the bed out of its original accuracy.
A 'best cure' for this is to make up the parts necessary to have the bed on a 'three-point mounting', two mount points at the headstock end, and one at the tail end, which positively allows the bed to 'crawl' back to its original accuracy if it has been twisted a bit. (even the seemingly strong casting of a lathe bed will deform slightly, if held down to an uneven or warped surface.
It doesn't take much of this effect to have the bed that few thou out of alignment, over its length. Almost always, a bed so twisted will 'un-twist' or correct itself, back to its original accuracy, tho it may take a few months' time do do so.
cheers
Carla
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