South Bend Lathe

[SONNY]

Got this after looking for many years for a reasonable one to come up!



It is 8' long, end to end and weighs around 2,500 pounds.--has a section of line shaft drive and lots of tooling with it as well.
have to mount the line drive on the wall above the lathe along with a electric motor and vee pulley to run it. came with a big box of assorted tooling too so might be able to make my hydro conversion connectors myself!---(after I learn how to run a metal cutting lathe!--I know how to do wood, but this is WAY different than wood! thanks; sonny

[Landreo]

Looks nice. My first metal lathe years ago had a flat belt.
One of my Commanding Generals from a few years ago took me on a tour of his shop next to the General's Quarters. He restores old lathes like that including scraping the ways and so on.

[SONNY]

I think it will serve my needs, IF I can learn how to use it!! LOL! thanks; sonny

[Rudi]

Sonny:

I remember well learning how to use a metal lathe over 40 years ago in High School -- 4 year Tech Program. If you can turn decently on a wood lathe, then you have some basic skills that can be transposed to the metal lathe. However -- remember safety shields are the first thing you put on before you turn on the power. Free hand is not an option ok --

I googled Learning To Turn on a SouthBend Lathe and got some good hits:



I am sure if you check Amazon.com you should be able to find a nice helpful handbook on metal turning. I would love to have a small metal lathe .. maybe some day.

[ricky racer]

I was in one of the buildings that used to house South Bend Lathe last week. I also work with several guys that used to work at South Bend Lathe. Small world.

[tinnerjohn]

Great find. If I ever get my shop built, thats one of the first things I want. Check www.lindsaybks.com, they have reprinted several old South Bend manuals. Good quality and price. John

[motoscott909]

Nice find there. i think you will be pleasantly surprised just how much you can do with that lathe. I was taught on a 1914 Monarch model A lathe as a kid (age 10) as my dad was a machinist by trade. I now have a 1910ish Seneca falls flat belt lathe that looks very similar to yours. Once you learn your lathe you will be able to make some pretty impressive parts.

Does yours have all the change gears for threading? If not i am sure you can find some or have some made up. I noticed that it still does have the threading chart on the leg nearest the headstock. Im willing to bet that it does not have a thread gauge so when cutting threads you will have to the leave the halfnut always engaged and reverse the spindle. (meaning you will need a motor will reverse).

Anyways sorry for the rambling. Im just passionate about old machines i guess. LOL.

[Denny Clayton]

Nice find there. i think you will be pleasantly surprised just how much you can do with that lathe. I was taught on a 1914 Monarch model A lathe as a kid (age 10) as my dad was a machinist by trade. I now have a 1910ish Seneca falls flat belt lathe that looks very similar to yours. Once you learn your lathe you will be able to make some pretty impressive parts.

Does yours have all the change gears for threading? If not i am sure you can find some or have some made up. I noticed that it still does have the threading chart on the leg nearest the headstock. Im willing to bet that it does not have a thread gauge so when cutting threads you will have to the leave the halfnut always engaged and reverse the spindle. (meaning you will need a motor will reverse).

Anyways sorry for the rambling. Im just passionate about old machines i guess. LOL.

The lathe you learned on was made right here in Sidney, Ohio. They shipped their products all over the world. Alas, their presence is no longer in Sidney since about 10 years ago.

http://www.monarchmt.com/history.htm

[motoscott909]

Denny:

What a small world we live in! I do have to say that Monarch built a good machine. My dad still uses that 100 year old machine almost daily.

Thanks for the info!

Scott