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Just bought an American Pacemaker

Joined
Apr 17, 2020
Hello everyone! I just won this American Pacemaker lathe. It was at a closed factory and I bid on just the photos and the advice of a machinist friend. I wanted to share it here and see what everyone thinks. They had it listed as a 12" by 72", but my research has me thinking it is a 16" by 54". I don't have a serial number or anything yet. The auction house required the use of a rigger, he is going to bring it through the door of the tool room, out of the building, and set it on my trailer for $300. Probably going to pick it up next week.

Imgur: The magic of the Internet

Imgur: The magic of the Internet

Imgur: The magic of the Internet

Imgur: The magic of the Internet

I know it's heavy, and 3 phase. But I have experience with convertors, and even have a couple 3 phase generator too.

Might be a bit big for a 'beginner' lathe, but for the price and the apparent condition, I'll take it.

I won it for $968 after buyers fees.
 
Hello everyone! I just won this American Pacemaker lathe. It was at a closed factory and I bid on just the photos and the advice of a machinist friend. I wanted to share it here and see what everyone thinks. They had it listed as a 12" by 72", but my research has me thinking it is a 16" by 54". I don't have a serial number or anything yet. The auction house required the use of a rigger, he is going to bring it through the door of the tool room, out of the building, and set it on my trailer for $300. Probably going to pick it up next week.

Imgur: The magic of the Internet

Imgur: The magic of the Internet

Imgur: The magic of the Internet

Imgur: The magic of the Internet

I know it's heavy, and 3 phase. But I have experience with convertors, and even have a couple 3 phase generator too.

Might be a bit big for a 'beginner' lathe, but for the price and the apparent condition, I'll take it.

I won it for $968 after buyers fees.

Hell of a lathe for that money.
 
See Bulletin 16, 17 and 20 here - thanks to Greg Menke for hosting

http://pounceatron.dreamhosters.com/docs/atw/atw-pacemaker-bulletin-16-1943-si.pdf

http://pounceatron.dreamhosters.com/docs/atw/atw-pacemaker-bulletin-17-1940.pdf

http://pounceatron.dreamhosters.com/docs/atw/atw-pacemaker-parts-bulletin-20-1966.pdf

Serial will be right end on front VERTICAL face of front way - it will will end in two digits indicating year built

Like so

View attachment 286926

Awesome, thanks for the bulletins and the serial info! I can't wait to see it in person.
 
Thanks for that awesome info! I will get the serial number when I go grab it. I can't wait to look it over in person. I see it is the 27 speed model, and zooming in to the tag under the chuck it appears to say 16 x 54. We shall see.
 
One of the best lathes ever! Both for the rigging cost and price I would say you stole it. Look like it has the rapid traverse as well.

Great find

Andy
 
nice lathe, there a heck of a good machine. I love mine.

yours looks like an interesting setup, It has the 27 speed head. i dont see a taper atachment which isnt a huge deal. it also dosnt look to have the ball stop for threading on the cross slide. It also has a handle above the handwheel for the left/righ movement that i dont know what its for. Mine dosnt have that feature. ill have to do some looking through the old bulletins and see if it says what it is. Either way its a good deal and machine for that plice.
 
I was watching that auction too! I wanted it but did not bid as I don't need it or have space for it. It's a beautiful piece of equipment! congrats. Please update with pictures once you get it set up and running.
 
nice lathe, there a heck of a good machine. I love mine.

yours looks like an interesting setup, It has the 27 speed head. i dont see a taper atachment which isnt a huge deal. it also dosnt look to have the ball stop for threading on the cross slide. It also has a handle above the handwheel for the left/righ movement that i dont know what its for. Mine dosnt have that feature. ill have to do some looking through the old bulletins and see if it says what it is. Either way its a good deal and machine for that plice.

Thanks! Like Andy said, it has the power rapid transverse. I looked up the bullitens and that is what that lever is for.

I promise to upload pics of the recovery and setup. Looks like I'm going to get it on Wednesday of next week.

Luckily I have a military wrecker with 10k boom at the house- will make getting it off the trailer a snap. Can even extend it into the shop and set it on rollers.

<a href="https://ibb.co/3dL7wMR"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/3dL7wMR/44508.jpg" alt="44508" border="0"></a>

<a href="https://ibb.co/j47yBw5"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/j47yBw5/44507.jpg" alt="44507" border="0"></a>
 
You did well for that price. I have half that in mine and it's in far worse shape. Plan on about 6000 lbs.

Sent from my LG-TP450 using Tapatalk
 
Thanks everyone! Looks like Wednesday will be the day. I'm not worried about unloading it, I have a military wrecker with an 18ft reach at full height, with a rotator. Should be super easy getting it unloaded. I might have to rig it into a shipping container for a month or so while it's new (and hopefully perminant home) is prepared. I've been doing lots of research here about hoisting these lathes, and I have done hundreds of awkward and heavy lifts at home and on the railroad.

I promise I will document the recovery, instillation, and setup.
44508.jpg
44507.jpg
 
Think you're going to need larger toolholders!

I'm not as familiar with the Pacemakers but I think the long lever on the lower right of the apron is the clutch. Pacemakers had leadscrew reverse and rapid traverse features, my guess is they were not supplied with this machine- those levers were all fitted to the lower right, just operating different rods, so the various bits and pieces are different there. I kind-of think the little lever on top of the carriage traverse wheel casting is to disengage the traverse gears, so threading will not drive the carriage traverse gear train. Those collars on the feed rod are adjustable feed stops- they might work in both directions on the Pacemakers- on my High Duty they only operate when feeding left.

Very nice machine though- if you get it working at capacity I think you will need to hire somebody to move the chips with a coal shovel :)
 
Oops, thats right, thanks John. Was thinking of the High Duty's system which operates via a rod that runs along below the apron thru a linkage around the tailstock of the bed.
 
The toolroom model had a second shaft running beside the clutch/brake shaft that reversed the leadscrew. The normal ones had a push/pull shaft inside the end cover. Don't know what you use it for though. You can do near anything you want from the apron.
 
looks like a fun truck, 10k should get the job done. some of the old manuals tell what the weight of them is. there a heavier machine than they look. when i got mine, i had it set inside the back door of the shop and took it apart and re assemble s it in the front of the shop as i cleaned and painted it.
 








 
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