Photo Index - Sears | Craftsman - 101.07403 (cat no. 2079)

Machinery Photo Index

Manufactured/Badged by:
Sears | Craftsman
Chicago, IL

True Manufacturer:
Sears, Roebuck & Co., Chicago, IL

Machine Specifications
Machine Class:	Metal Working Machinery
Machine Type:	Lathe, Metal
Machine Size:	12" x 36"
Submitted By:	Carl Bukowsky

Machine Specifications
Description/Model:	101.07403 (cat no. 2079)
Date of Manufacturer:	1945
Serial Number:	13901 S
Last Updated	12/24/2023 2:56:05 PM

Comments:

My neighbor Brian and I were talking about things in general and he mentioned he had an 'old lathe' stored in his garage. When Brian learned that I restored old vintage machinery as my hobby, he asked if I would be interested in doing one for him. He said it had belonged in his family since the 40's, purchased by his grandfather sometime after WWII. It was stuck somewhere, deep in the piles of stuff that fill most garages.

Well, a year or so passed, then one Saturday morning in July 2020 Brain was cleaning and re-arranging his garage. He told me I could come get that lathe now, so I was stunned when he said I could have it! I then proceeded to dismantle it on his driveway, wheeling large pieces across the street to my garage/shop. Brain told me all he wanted in return are photos of the restored lathe, to which I agreed.

I dated the lathe based on the dates that were hand-ascribed on the Timken spindle bearings; 10.11.43 and 02.20.44. That time period matches up with the history Brian gave me that his Grandfather had purchased it after WWII. I suspect that it might have been war surplus that his grandfather acquired because it has very little wear on the compound movement (tight nut) and worn cross-slide (lots of backlash in the nut). The 1/2 HP GE motor that came on this lathe is the exact same model as I have on the Oliver Type S-4 Die Filing machine I own; the GE Model 20001 Type SA!! I cleaned and oiled it before I turned it on and it purrs, quiet.

The lathe motor/belt drive assembly was a kludge of sorts, like maybe Grandfather had added those parts to the lathe (another reason I believe it was a war surplus purchase). So I acquired the correct belt and gear guards and motor/countershaft assembly to put the lathe back into the original factory configuration. The spindle bearings were OK, but they had developed some roughness from sitting without any lubrication (roller bearing position impressions were corroded onto the bearing race surface, could not cleaned or polished. I found a NOS set of spindle bearings ($$$) and that issue is solved.

The lathe has had a complete, down to bare metal restoration, piece-parts disassembled, cleaned, painted, waxed, polished and oiled back into factory condition. I acquired a correct size, OEM motor drive pulley to use on the lathe so the lathe speed selections are as close as possible to those listed in the factory manual (Note: the OEM motor pulley was for a 5/8" shaft so I resized it to fit the 1/2" shaft on the GE 20001 Type SA motor).

The change gear set was incomplete, so I have acquired the missing gears to complete the set and there are a few extra gears and bushings as well so I can configure the lathe for cutting both Imperial and Metric threads. The lathe came with the factory threading dial and a 1/2” Jacobs chuck MT2. The tail stock had no wrench, but it came with the center dobber (frozen in place!). Brian is still looking for “that box with the lantern tool post, cutters, and tooling” (I hope he locates it!).

Photo 1:

Comments: As I acquired it from Brian
Source: my iPhone

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Photo 2:

Comments:
Source: my iPhone

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Photo 3:

Comments: Missing Gear Guard and Belt Covers
Source: my iPhone

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Photo 4:

Comments: It's a Craftsman!!
Source: my iPhone

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Photo 5:

Comments: Original Spindle Bearingswith hand-marked dates
Source: my iPhone

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Photo 6:

Comments: After the Restoration
Source: My iPhone

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