Author Topic: 1939 South Bend 9"x54" Lathe  (Read 4227 times)

Offline rockknocker

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1939 South Bend 9"x54" Lathe
« on: September 22, 2014, 01:25:29 AM »
My Brother is an ambitious entrepreneur currently going to school for manufacturing engineering and metalworking. He eventually would like to start his own company centered around designing and machining his own product for a specialized market. To that end, he's in the market for a good lathe that will help him learn the art of machining metal. I've seen the MadModder group lend some great advice in the past and offered to ask about a lathe he's found for sale.

The lathe is a 1939 South Bend 9"x54" (32" between centers), #415-RA. It appears to be in serviceable restored shape and comes with several upgraded attachments. The owner has upgraded the toolholder to a quick change and indexable holder and is including the original holders and change gears.

The lathe is being sold for a negotiable $1500 USD. Is this a good price for a lathe of this vintage and capability? I'll likely go with him to check it out in the next few days, is there anything about these lathes to look out for?

Images from the seller are attached. What do you fellas think?
Anything is possible when you forget what's impossible.

Offline chipenter

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Re: 1939 South Bend 9"x54" Lathe
« Reply #1 on: September 22, 2014, 03:59:28 AM »
South bend are a good solid lathe wear to ways is seen by a ridge on top of the ways , and by nipping up the apron stop finger tight under the chuck and moving the apron towards the tailstock how far it goes depends on the wear ,spares are still available from Grizzly and lots of info at Yahoo Southbend  https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/SOUTHBENDLATHE/info forum ,can't help with the value as prices are defferent over hear .
Jeff

Offline rockknocker

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Re: 1939 South Bend 9"x54" Lathe
« Reply #2 on: September 25, 2014, 10:38:10 AM »
Thanks for the good advice Chipenter! I ended up using your advice on another lathe that my brother got a line on, a Logan 825. He found an entire shop for sale for pennies on the dollar and offered to buy the whole thing! It could still potentially fall through but if the seller accepts he'll have the Logan lathe, a medium-size Bridgeport, an Atlas 7" sharper, and a Boyar-Schultz 612 surface grinder, along with tooling for everything.

The best part (for me) is that he's looking to set it up in my shop! This is only until he has a place of his own, but I'll still take the opportunity!
Anything is possible when you forget what's impossible.

Offline Meldonmech

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Re: 1939 South Bend 9"x54" Lathe
« Reply #3 on: September 25, 2014, 11:49:11 AM »
 
     When setting up a business machining turned parts, a lathe with a screw cutting gearbox is a distinct advantage and saves lots of setting up time. However if a bargain complete machine shop is up for grabs, it sounds like an offer you cannot refuse.

                                                                 Good Luck
                                                                                      Cheers David

                                                   

Offline rockknocker

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Re: 1939 South Bend 9"x54" Lathe
« Reply #4 on: September 25, 2014, 03:20:34 PM »
The machines are getting picked up today! I've attached some pictures of the machines in question before removal.
Anything is possible when you forget what's impossible.

Offline Meldonmech

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Re: 1939 South Bend 9"x54" Lathe
« Reply #5 on: September 26, 2014, 07:53:04 AM »

     Nice selection of machinery you have bought, there is not much you will not be able to machine when they are set up and ready to go. 

                                                           Good Luck
                                                                                   Cheers David