Photo Index - South Bend Lathe Works - 10L (aka Heavy-10) Lathe

Machinery Photo Index

Manufactured/Badged by:
South Bend Lathe Works
South Bend, IN

Machine Specifications
Machine Class:	Metal Working Machinery
Machine Type:	Lathe, Metal
Machine Size:	10" Swing, 4' bed
Submitted By:	Brad Jacob

Machine Specifications
Description/Model:	10L (aka Heavy-10) Lathe
Date of Manufacturer:	1942
Serial Number:	126512
Last Updated	4/6/2011 3:44:15 PM

Comments:

I found this machine on Craigs-List. It was advertised for $800 and with a little negotiation skills, got the price down to $450.

The company who bought it was - "Wright Field Aircraft Radio Lab" in Green County, Ohio. Looks like the company did aircraft communications - and most likely for the war effort. The date shows that this machine was ordered and shipped right smack in the thick of World War II. In fact, this lathe was ordered about 2 months after Pearl Harbor and shipped one month before the battle of Midway. And she was in use when we hit Normandy beach on D-day. Wow... It's really something how you can connect the history with the physical machine.

I bought it on Halloween 2010 and the restoration was finished 3 months later to the day. It was running a few days later when I was able to get the motor wired and belt glued up. Since then, I've upgraded the dials to the larger, direct-read version on both the crossfeed and compound. I've also fitted it with a brand new Bison chuck and Phase-II quick change tool post.

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