South Bend 13” manufacture date/ need help

U

upcondor

Aluminum

Joined

Jul 22, 2011

Location

Texas

• Feb 20, 2019

• #1

I have a South Bend 13” lathe that I am trying to find out the manufacture date of. The serial number is 7693TKL14.

I know the following T=13”, K= QCG, UMD, and Friction Feed,
L= Large Spindle Hole

It also has a taper attachment. Not sure if all the parts are there for it but most are.

Need help on manufacture date please.....

Thanks

 

I

iwananew10K

Diamond

Joined

Sep 12, 2010

Location

moscow,ohio

• Feb 20, 2019

• #2

looks like 1959- courtesy of Mr. Wells site-

http://www.wswells.com/sn/sn_db.htm

 

U

upcondor

Aluminum

Joined

Jul 22, 2011

Location

Texas

• Feb 21, 2019

• #3

Thank you for the help. I was looking at the serial number page wrong but see it now. The lathe v-ways show some wear in the normal area (12-14”) from headstock. With a 1959 born date I thought this lathe would have had a flame hardened bed. When did South Bend start using hardened beds on the 13” lathe ?

 

S

swells

Stainless

Joined

Dec 29, 2004

Location

Indiana

• Feb 21, 2019

• #4

upcondor said:

Thank you for the help. I was looking at the serial number page wrong but see it now. The lathe v-ways show some wear in the normal area (12-14”) from headstock. With a 1959 born date I thought this lathe would have had a flame hardened bed. When did South Bend start using hardened beds on the 13” lathe ?

Click to expand...

The x-braced DDB-200T bed started in 3-7-1958, the DDB-200TG hardened and Ground bed was optional at the same date.

The Hardened Bed Unit Code number was revised to DDB-201T on 10/16/1967 when it was made a standard feature.


Steve

 

U

upcondor

Aluminum

Joined

Jul 22, 2011

Location

Texas

• Feb 21, 2019

• #5

Thank you very much for your help ! Will put to rest comments made about a lathe for sale. It is the “X” braced bed.

Tom

 

I

iwananew10K

Diamond

Joined

Sep 12, 2010

Location

moscow,ohio

• Feb 21, 2019

• #6

???? What comments?

read Mr. Wells reply carefully....x braced does not automatically mean hardened bed.

 

U

upcondor

Aluminum

Joined

Jul 22, 2011

Location

Texas

• Feb 21, 2019

• #7

The comments I refer to were made by an individual near me that has the lathe for sale. The seller gave me information on the lathe that I felt was incorrect. I deferred to this site for your help/ clarification on exactly what the lathe is.

I took his comments to mean that the x brace meant non hardened bed. Did I misunderstand that part ?

 

I

iwananew10K

Diamond

Joined

Sep 12, 2010

Location

moscow,ohio

• Feb 21, 2019

• #8

It can go either way....when they first switched to the x bracing hardening was optional up until the 60's?? when it became standard.

i do not know where the little pissed off dude came from...tried to remove him but he won't go away...

 

U

upcondor

Aluminum

Joined

Jul 22, 2011

Location

Texas

• Feb 21, 2019

• #9

Ok, pretty sure from the wear on the v ways this one is not hardened. But I have limited experience with SB as you can see.

 

S

swells

Stainless

Joined

Dec 29, 2004

Location

Indiana

• Feb 21, 2019

• #10

upcondor said:

Ok, pretty sure from the wear on the v ways this one is not hardened. But I have limited experience with SB as you can see.

Click to expand...

Just ask for or look at the unit code numbers on the rear flat way by the tailstock. To be hardened it will be stamped DDB-200TG or
DDB-201T

Steve

 

U

upcondor

Aluminum

Joined

Jul 22, 2011

Location

Texas

• Feb 21, 2019

• #11

Ok I will thanks

 

G

GenePoole

Cast Iron

Joined

Dec 8, 2012

Location

St. Louis, MO

• Feb 22, 2019

• #12

Non-hardened ways should still show signs of the factory scraping--at least in places that don't see wear, like the inner flat ways near the headstock, or the unused v-way near the tailstock.

This is a random picture I dug up of my 1966 with non-hardened ways:

 

U

upcondor

Aluminum

Joined

Jul 22, 2011

Location

Texas

• Feb 22, 2019

• #13

Thanks for the additional info and pic for reference. I was unable to find any code at all on the bed as swells referred to.

 

I

iwananew10K

Diamond

Joined

Sep 12, 2010

Location

moscow,ohio

• Feb 22, 2019

• #14

Look between the rear twin v ways....opposite side of the bed from the serial number.

 

U

upcondor

Aluminum

Joined

Jul 22, 2011

Location

Texas

• Feb 22, 2019

• #15

Ok, will try this evening.

 

U

upcondor

Aluminum

Joined

Jul 22, 2011

Location

Texas

• Feb 24, 2019

• #16

Did not find any numbers at all.

Tom