South Bend lathe model and value

55 50 Ron

Well-known Member
What model is this South Bend lathe? If sold, what value does it have?

I forgot to measure the bed length, but I think it's in the 5 to 6 ft range.

It has no motor, just the flat belt drive. Can most likely be fitted for electric motor drive.

Thanks for your answers.

Ron
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I have no idea as to model, but as to price for around here (SE NE) I would probably not more than $1,000 or whatever scrap price would be. I saw two south bend lathes sell this pass year, both the same size (4 ft bed) first one was your vintage only converted to electric it sold for either $500 or $600 and supposedly the scrap value of it was $650. The other one was a 1993 model overhauled/updated in 2003 and it sold for $1500. Again just a guess. HTH
 

Don't know the model, but that is a VERY old lathe. Appears that the bed ways are all rusty. Not likely you could ever get any real precision out of it anymore. Someone will probably step in and offer $1,000, but I would be hard pressed to give more than $150.
 
(quoted from post at 02:58:22 06/21/17) They just are not in demand anymore, and that one is real rusted, scrap price.

Small home shop lathes are still in demand, it's the big mothers you'd find in a commercial shop that are scrap value. They use CNC lathes that you can actually make some money with, compared to a manual.

But I agree this one is a parts or scrap one, way too much effort to get that one functional.
 
The model back then was typically based on the swing dimension. In other words one with a 15 inch swing would be a Model 15, and so on. Short of paying to get a build card on it, it's hard to tell a date exactly, but when I called in and talked to one of South Bends people, we estimated mine was built around 1925. That said, check out the web site and you should be able to ID the model a bit more precisely.

As far as the value, I a similar one, with a 15 inch swing, and an 8 foot bed, that I sold about 4 years ago for $1500. I had shimmed and bored the spindle bushings back true, and set the clearances on them. I also sold it with two chucks (independent 3 jaw and 4 jaw), all of the change gears, a follow rest, a milling vice, and some other assorted tooling. Based on what I see in the pictures, I'd guestimate that one going closer to the $500 mark, or less depending on actual condition, and that's to someone who just needs the larger swing/bed length, but not the expense of a more modern machine to get it.

Mine was originally a flat belt drive, but it had a frame mounted off the back, that was built to carry a 1HP three phase motor, that drove a jackshaft via a V belt, and in turn drove a flat belt to the spindle.

As far as accuracy, once I got the spindle bearings trued up, it would easily hold .001 anywhere I set the carriage. I guess I just got lucky because this lathe hadn't seen much use in it's life. In fact, the man I bought it from said it was in the building he was renting when he have moved in nearly 40 years before, and other than polishing a shaft, or turning a rotor here and there, he had used it very little.

With all that said, if your just looking to get rid or it, don't be afraid to take whatever you can get short of letting it go to the scrap yard. The way I see it, it's a piece of history and, in my opinion, mechanical art, and they definitely aren't making them any more.

To be honest I miss the 'old girl
South Bend Lathe Company
 
I think I would break it down and sell the parts. It looks like it was in a sand storm . Rust on the ways is neglect . Block sanding off the rust for the next guy is deceit. I would pay 100 for parts. Each piece like a tailstock sell on ebay .
 
That is a "gear change" lathe, not like the newer "quick change" lathes. Are extra gears included? Should be over half a dozen. I have a similar one, 1910 South Bend 13 inch. There should be a serial number on the far end of the bed...maybe 4 digits. Mine has an added 3 speed car transmission, and half-horse motor. Paid $875 for it in about 1970. I"ve seen good lathes of similar size, but quick-change, go for about $650 lately. "How To Run A Lathe" is an old book, currently available, printed by South Bend. Check out their website...may be able to ID the lathe by pix and serial number. Total bed length is what determines size....include the bed portion under the drive (headstock) end...."between centers" is a different measurement....distance between chuck and tailstock.
 
The more I look at it, the more I think it is just like mine...I don"t see any appreciable differences. Carriage, tailstock, cross feed is the same. I certainly would not scrap it. I don"t understand those that say it is too rusty. You can only determine that in person, not from a pic.
 
Not much market for lathes that age, size and condition. At recent auctions I have attended two similar have brought $35 and $125 respectively. A person with a similar machine in decent condition that needs a part might pay well for just one part he needs. I would advertise it and see what shakes out. Otherwise (sorry to say) it's pretty much worth it's weight times current scrap value.
 
I looked on ebay and prices for complete running lathes are way down .

I would definitely blow it off and oil it down , then make sure everything moves freely . Same with all of the parts to go with it .

There may be a few people interested in it "As Is" but the more that you can demonstrate as a good working feature then the better the selling price . If I am not sure if a part is working properly or not I have to assume the worst and it will cost money to fix it .

Your best bet may be to trade for something you do want , ie spare tires , a back up bush hog , post hole auger , or other implements . I am more likely to trade something I don't use for something I don't really need ( another hobby item ) than to spend cash .

If I could not sell it , I would convert it to a wood lathe and ebay the extra parts , probably for more than I could sell the whole thing for .
 
When I bought my atlas lathe (made post WWII) I knew nothing about them, and I didn't ask about tools. I had to buy a 4 jaw chuck and a steady rest among other things. Also I was lucky mine had a quick change gear box. Any parts you have will make it more profitable.
I think you can clean up the bed and parts, break it down and sell it on eBay for lots more than you can get selling it outright. Mine is a 4ft. bed, a longer bed is more desirable. Take some good close up pics that'll help sell the parts. There are lots of people that have old lathes that need parts for them, especially gears for the feed.
Good luck.
 

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