Mystery Lathe

My brother Steve picked up this lathe a couple of years ago and it has been in storage ever since. Thinking I had a metal lathe project to do for Dad, I've been pumping Steve to move it out of storage and bring it to Dads place over Christmas. Steve called his buddy Shawn Monday night and brought it over.

I spent Monday evening looking it over and putting it back on it's legs, and most all of Tuesday taking it apart, cleaning and reassembling it.

The question was: Who made it? Although there is a serial number on the bed, and the number "10" on various castings, there is no makers marks. I took down the vital statistics (10" swing, 42" work length, etc.) and a couple of pictures and posted it to my favorite old iron bulletin board, the Practical Machinist. Within four hours of my posting I had my answer!

Steve has a SouthBend 10, from 1915-1920! Most likely this model was sold by Sears Roebuck & Co since it does not have the SouthBend name tags. Also, his model was likely treadle-powered, not motor or lineshaft since the legs have the bushings for the foot treadle and flywheel. See this website for and early example this model, stunningly restored.

Wow! I can't believe he has such and old SouthBend! Now to finish the clean up efforts so it can be used.