My first question as a newbie:

I live in Sweden and have a SB 9C which I think was made in 1939.

It seems that South Bend exported lathes to Sweden:

http://www.wswells.com/serial_number.html

(See serial # 98786)

...and it also seems that there were "metric" 9" models:

http://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb...ghlight=metric

Yesterday I tried to measure the pitch of the cross feed and compound feed screws. It seems that for both, the movement would be 5.00 mm for two full turns of the feed screws.

However, the measurements were not very accuate and it seems likely that with inch pitch feed screws (maybe 10 TPI?) the movement would be 5.08 mm so the difference is not very significant.

The collars are graduated 0.2 0.4 0.6 up to 2.5 for a full turn. Guessing again I would think that a collar graduated for a 10 TPI feed screw would instead maybe be graduated 10 20 30 up to 100/1000 (0.1) inch for a full turn (?)

Does anyone know for sure if there were any SB 9s with metric feed screws?

What you have described is a metric CF screw. South Bend Lathe did make metric machines and it seems you have one.
I have some replacement parts for it if/when you need some(including a thread dial).
Ted
latheman2@aol.com

It may also be useful for you to know that Boxford (Made in England) A, B & C (and AUD, BUD & CUD) lathes were based on the 9 and that as the UK kind of went metric ( we still use miles per hour) metric versions were available.

This means that many Boxford parts will fit your lathe and there is a good supply in England on e.g. ebay. Metric thread dials are however hard to come by.

This site has lots of useful information on Southbends, Boxfords and many other lathes.



http://www.lathes.co.uk/

Thanks for the info!

This week I got a catalog from January 1938: "The New Model South Bend 9-inch "WORKSHOP" Precision Lathes".

On page 3 it says: "Metric graduated collars for cross feed screw and compound rest screw can be supplied in lieu of regular graduated collars at extra cost."

BTW: At this point I have most parts needed to convert my model C to a model A, but I think it will be very hard to find a metric cross (power) feed scew. Also after over 70years of use the cross feed nut needs replacing. So after the conversion, the only metric parts left will be those for the compound rest.

Of course, for me living in Europe it would be a lot easier to work with a metric lathe. But I feel that this old SBL has so many other advantages (this forum being one of them!) making it well worth having to convert between inch and mm when using it.