I recently won this bench lathe from a sealed bid auction. The serial number is 57262.

The labels read: Model 80-Z, 9" with a 3 1/2 ft bed

The serial places its manufacture date around 1935

My best guess is that it is a "Type N" lathe, but I am not knowledgeable enough to be sure of that. Could anyone ID it and perhaps share some of the data/characteristics that its model would have commonly had? Visually it looks more like the older Heavy Ten's to me.

I am wondering if the Workshop 9" rebuild guide would have enough in common with this lathe to make it worthwhile.

Yes you have a series N lathe. there is very little literature on this model. I have a few part to one and they show me that there is little that will interchange with the O or R series lathes. The O series is the one most commonly seen and was built from 1920 to the early 1930's. The N lathe has a number of unique features on it. but like all lathes with a quick change gear box and the wider 1 1/4 inch wide flat belt drive these are all known as tool room lathes or engine lathes with the Tool room lathe having a collet closer and a taper attachment.

There is little of anything in the how to rebuild a workshop lathe that will apply to the lathe you have. I have restored a number of the O and R series lathes and as I say I have parts to your lathe. change box saddle apron and lead screw mount bearings do not interchange between your lathe and the O or R model. It also will not interchange with the S and T series of lathes that came later. The N series was built in the Mid 30's but we really don't know when it started and when it finished. I have seen 1934 dated ones as well as 1937 models. For a fact it had a very short life.

The main thing that is different is the apron and the cross slide. The N series lathes I have seen have a tapered gib on the cross slide but has a circular Tee slot for the two tee bolts that old the compound like the O series. The apron is the really strange item on these lathes. You have a push pull plunger to change from cross to longitudinal feed. One thing that is significant about these aprons is you have no interlock between power cross feed and the half nuts so you can get some really interesting tapers turned with one of these. The longitudinal feed is interlocked and you can not engage the half nuts when this feed is selected. There was a Jet lathe built in Spain that had a similar feature that was kind of interesting and that was there URPY series of lathes they sold in the 80's and 90's.

For a fact you have a very rare lathe and I will give you any help I can in your repair or restoration of the lathe.

Turk

this lathe has nothing in common with the 9 inch workshop. But I do believe it has some things in common with the early heavy 10. but since I have never used one of these, I cannot say for sure. I do know that these are workhorses, they can take a heavier cut, and is much more rigid than the workshop models. I don't know what you pay for it, but with proper care this would be a very good lathe to have.

promacjoe

Thank you both for your quick and informative responses. I am sure I will have many questions as I test the waters with this lathe. My primary concern is not inadvertently damaging anything in the process of cleaning it up and restoring it to service. I have never restored a lathe before so I am sure I will be asking many questions as well as double and triple checking each step.

I'm almost embarrased about that point. I paid $521.28 and I not only got the accessories shown, but a manual drawbar, four jaw chuck, steady rest, about ten toolholders, two knurlers, micrometer stop, and 11 of the 16 collets needed for a full 32nd's set of 3c collets.

Congratulations on winning the bid. I almost bid on it myself.

I've been busier with researching the lathe than refurbishing it.

Interesting facts:

New, with all of the accessories that I won with my auction bid, the lathe would have cost $731.45 This was in 1935. The kicker is the Lever bed turret which sold for $225! The lathe itself was only $294!

Adjusted for inflation, this machine would be $11,314.74 today

The Junior 9" was $197, and the 9" toolmaker was $166, which likely explains the short lifespan and relative rarity of the 9" Type N lathes.