South bend 14 1/2 / 16" lathe?

I have a 1939 SB 16" by 6' bed lathe, which is like the one used as the demo in the "how to run a lathe" book. I really like it, but I don't have experience with any other lathe.

Mine has been converted to single phase, with a 2 hp motor that is a lot lighter than the stock motor, so I get a little belt slippage if I try a heavy cut at high speed. But - I can trepan through 1045 steel with a 1/4" wide tool under power feed at the lowest feed and speed, and that strikes me as amazing! Probably the biggest drawback is that the highest speed is about 700 rpm. With plain bronze bearings and drip or wick oilers, you probably don't want to gear it up to go faster, although you could jimmy around with the V-belt primary drive.

Mine can hold .0005 over 6" if I try to level it perfectly, and it is basically maintenance free, it's so easy to take care of. I wouldn't replace it, and because it is a big heavy beast (about 2000 pounds anyway) it is not in demand as a hobby lathe.

I thought it was that heavy not sure I want to get involved. The price is right $200.00 with collets. I might just go look but I just moved a mill two days ago.

"Wayne" wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@corp.supernews.com:

Bring the trailer and the checkbook anyway. :^) --Glenn Lyford