Photo Index - Yates-American Machine Co., Inc. - J-170 (extra long bed)

Machinery Photo Index

Manufactured/Badged by:
Yates-American Machine Co., Inc.
Beloit, WI; Roscoe, IL; Liberty, NC

True Manufacturer:
Yates-American Machine Co., Inc., Beloit, WI; Roscoe, IL; Liberty, NC

Machine Specifications
Machine Class:	Wood Working Machinery
Machine Type:	Lathe, Wood
Machine Size:	12"
Submitted By:	D.L. (Larry) Felton

Machine Specifications
Description/Model:	J-170 (extra long bed)
Date of Manufacturer:	1956-1958 (est.)
Serial Number:	J170 1284
Last Updated	4/15/2023 3:51:25 PM

Comments:

This long bed J-170 lathe was offered for sale on eBay in March 2022 by Dalton Machinery in Dalton, GA. I communicated with the seller regarding its identity, and they gratiously searched for and found its serial number. Starting bid was $1,000.00 - I do not know if the lathe sold.

I'm posting the photos and description here because this is the longest bed I've ever seen on a J-170 lathe ("6' travel" per eBay listing.) Early sales listings state "BED: Regular bed length 55" gives 31" between centers. Other bed lengths at extra charge." (e.g. Yates American introductory J-Line brochure, Brodhead-Garrett catalogs for 1950-51 and 1952.)

The custom bed length option seems to disappear in sales literature after the square-base models was introduced about 1958. The head stock and bed on later models was a single casting, while the bed of the earlier oval-base models was a separate piece, bolted to the head stock frame. It seems like it might have been more difficult to offer different bed lengths on the later one-piece model.

I don't know the exact date J-170s were introduced - ca. 1949-50, I suspect. This example has the flat red aluminum name plate, which replaced the fancier cast/chromed version seen on earlier (but not the very earliest) models. I'd suspect the flat red aluminum name plates came into use shortly before the introduction of the square base models (~1958,) which continued to use this same badge.

(N.B. Harry Stanton has also reported another long-bed J-170 (SN: J-170-934) with 43" between centers.
https://www.owwm.org/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=218133 )

Photo 1:

Comments: Overview and name plates detail. (Machine dealer = "Tidewater Supply Co. Inc., Norfolk, Virginia")
Source: Dalton Machinery, 2022

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Photo 2:

Comments: Head stock and banjo.
Source: Dalton Machinery, 2022

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Photo 3:

Comments: Tailstock and right bed support
Source: Dalton Machinery, 2022

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Photo 4:

Comments: Tail stock closeup and serial number detail (uncertain of exact position on bed.)
Source: Dalton Machinery, 2022

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Photo 5:

Comments: Back of lathe, detail of motor control box cover.
Source: Dalton Machinery, 2022

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Photo 6:

Comments: Motor; detail of motor plate (1 HP, 3 phase, made by Peerless for Yates-American.)
Source: Dalton Machinery, 2022

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