Photo Index - Sears | Craftsman - 101.07301

Machinery Photo Index

Manufactured/Badged by:
Sears | Craftsman
Chicago, IL

True Manufacturer:
Atlas Press Co., Kalamazoo, MI

Machine Specifications
Machine Class:	Metal Working Machinery
Machine Type:	Lathe, Metal
Machine Size:	6" x 18"
Submitted By:	D.L. (Larry) Felton

Machine Specifications
Description/Model:	101.07301
Date of Manufacturer:	1950 (or slightly later)
Serial Number:	6L 026634
Last Updated	4/7/2022 7:54:32 PM

Comments:

Purchased in late July 2016 from Doug _ in Boise Idaho. I know little about its history, other than the PO bought it as a project, and then realized he didn't have time for it (new job, new baby, etc.) It seems fairly complete, including full set of change gears & a 3-jaw chuck. The biggest problem was that back gear & bull gear had been chewed up, but have acquired replacements.

I've spent quite a bit of time cleaning it up, etc. and have just ordered tooling from Little Machine Shop. It came with a 1/3 HP Rockwell motor, but I think I'll probably use an older, quieter Century motor of the same size in the near term. If this machine proves useful, I'll probably put a 3-phase+VFD on it. I have learned a lot so far, and hope to do some useful work with it - ultimate objective is to learn enough to make parts/adapters for my wood lathes. Will post some after photos when it's back together.

I'm guessing this machine was produced in 1950 or shortly thereafter. While I've yet to discover a comprehensive serial number/date concordance list, another seemingly identical lathe registered here (http://vintagemachinery.org/photoindex/detail.aspx?id=14815) with SN of 26049 was purportedly purchased in 1950 - mine is 585 serial numbers later, if I'm reading everything correctly. It is painted a rather distinctive blue-green-gray color, virtually identical to a Craftsman band saw I had and tentatively dated to 1954-1959.

2019 Update, 2022 edit: I'm glad I got a 101.07301 rather than one of the later version of Craftsman's 6" lathe (model 101.21400, ca. 1959-1972 or 101.21200, ca. 1973-1976.) The 101.07301s (ca. 1939-1958) have 1"-8 TPI spindle threads, while the two later Craftsman models (as well as similar Atlas 6" lathes) all have 1"-10 TPI spindles. With this setup, I can readily move chucks back and forth between my 1"-8 TPI wood lathes and the Craftsman 101.07301 to cut threads on turned wooden boxes/lids. I do most of the work on the wood lathe, move the chucks with work pieces still mounted to the 101.07301, and mill the threads with a Dremel tool mounted on the tool holder, turning the spindle-gear train-carriage with a hand crank.

Photo 1:

Comments: After cleanup, painting, etc. -ready to run
Source: My Canon, 9/6/16

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Photo 2:

Comments: Before-Craigslist photo
Source: PO (Doug), 7/23/16

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Photo 3:

Comments: Before-Craigslist photo
Source: PO (Doug), 7/23/16

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Photo 4:

Comments: change gears & spindle
Source: My Canon, 9/6/16

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Photo 5:

Comments: Motor (Century 1/4HP) & countershaft setup
Source: My Canon, 9/6/16

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Photo 6:

Comments: Badges, carriage & crossfeed
Source: My Canon, 9/6/16

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