SouthBend Lathe...it found me

[motorbreath53]

So the last thing I need is ANOTHER project... and this one is a project indeed.

I'm known in my neighborhood, (as i'm sure many of you are) as the "car guy who's always in his garage." I was recently approached by a neighbor whose Stepfather had just passed away. He mentioned that his Stepfather had an old lathe that was said to be sitting in a garage about 30 miles from my house.

My neighbor is not a car, nor a garage guy and had no use for the lathe. He offered it to me for a killer deal. "Just go get it..."

I had no idea what I was getting myself into honestly. I was picturing something at least "operational" from the description... but I think what I found is even cooler.

Serial Number 82427
Depending on whose forum you read its between 1935-1940.

Do to its rough, and unoriginal condition, I plan to do an "operational rebuild". Original-ish looking, with a 110 single phase motor etc...

Here it is after a pressure wash...

The rest of the stuff that will keep me glued to the blast cabinet for the next year..

This is my first lathe... so i'm learning as I go...

And the biggest bummer of the whole deal... bed damage... Someone "clearanced" the far side... and it looks like they used the bed as a cutting table and had an "oops"...

Anyway... thats my new toy... don't hold your breath for an expedient rebuild... but I do have good intentions...

 

[Mike14k]

extra cool find......

 

[930dreamer]

Nice, too bad about the bed injury. Do you know the model?

 

[andywander]

That "clearance cut" won;t hurt anything-that is the tailstock vee, unless I'm mistaken-you won;t need to move the tailstock that close to the headstock.

And I'd bet the notch is no problem as well. The bearing surfaces of the saddle are pretty long.

 

[motorbreath53]

I dont' know the model for sure. I plan to send off for "the card".

The damage to the bed is a major bummer... I didn't even notice it until I was pressure washing. I wonder if it would be cost prohibitive to have the damage fixed? At least the cut. I think the clearanced section will just be cleaned up a bit to look a bit less hasty.

I have some friends who are quite handy with a TIG... I just don't know what the cost would be to have the deck ground.

The slide passes over both imperfections seamlessly... maybe i'll just leave the slide parked over those spots when not in use?

 

[930dreamer]

I dont' know the model for sure. I plan to send off for "the card".

The damage to the bed is a major bummer... I didn't even notice it until I was pressure washing. I wonder if it would be cost prohibitive to have the damage fixed? At least the cut. I think the clearanced section will just be cleaned up a bit to look a bit less hasty.

I have some friends who are quite handy with a TIG... I just don't know what the cost would be to have the deck ground.

The slide passes over both imperfections seamlessly... maybe i'll just leave the slide parked over those spots when not in use?

It should have a model number on the speed change plate? Can you post a pics of that area?

 

[motorbreath53]

....sigh... no speed change plate.

You know of one for sale?

Going solely off the fact that it looks almost identical to this pic (sans speed change plate, and on/off switch) I believe it to be a 9" Workshop.

This thing might just be past the point of making financial sense to restore... but its too late. I'm smitten...

 

[454ragtop]

Might look into electrolysis or Evaporust instead of glass beading that tooling. Looks like you have some brake lathe adapters there too, perhaps he was turning drums or rotors on it in the past. Any more change gears for it? Would need them to cut threads.
Good luck, Jim.

 

[justanengineer]

Looks like a 9" "Workshop" to me....the real "Workshop" being pre-quick change gearbox (tho the name didnt go away when they added it) on the lil ones if I remember SB history right.

Nice find, you cant beat free. Clean it up, paint it up, and use it. Worst case you will make a few hundred $$$ if you ever sell it due to the irrational SB following.

 

[motorbreath53]

 

[motorbreath53]

I was actually just reading about the electrolysis stuff for Rust removal. I'm in. I'm going to try it.

I don't have any more change gears for it unfortunately... whats in the pic, is what I got.

I'll add those to the list though.... the list that gets longer everytime I look at it..

 

[rsanter]

look for an epoxy material called MOGLICE it is a repair epoxy for bearing surfaces like shafts and bedways

bob

 

[George in Rancho Cordova]

Check out this site:
http://www.southbendlathe.com/home.aspx

They have the records of shipping dates, original equipment, etc.

 

[Nelson58]

I was actually just reading about the electrolysis stuff for Rust removal. I'm in. I'm going to try it.

I don't have any more change gears for it unfortunately... whats in the pic, is what I got.

I'll add those to the list though.... the list that gets longer everytime I look at it..

A couple of guys will have change gears, depending on what you want to spend- Ted Pflugner [email protected], Ronnie Cammarata [email protected], along with a few sources on Ebay.

 

[1953mercury]

Nice score. Mike