Opinion Needed

[speedsport]

Anybody with personal experience with 9"SB model "A" lathe?. Looiing at one in exceptional condition, 1965 model. How good of a lathe are these?

[Evan]

You are joking, right?

[torker]

I don't know what the joke is but when I had my SB9C...I'd have killed for a 9A.
Just bear in mind that you'll have a 3/4" spindle bore....the thing I miss the least about my SB9.
Best beginner lathe out there IMO. I wish I could have kept the ol 9. Would be much nicer for my noob helper to learn on. This 14X40 ....things happen way too fast sometimes.
Russ

[Evan]

The joke. Let's see... There is a nearly new 1965 South Bend American made lathe for sale. It has a quick change gearbox and power crossfeed. I can afford it. It is what I was looking for. I wonder if it is a decent little lathe?

Sorry, Speedsport. Jump on it. You won't find a better lathe in that size for less than 10K.

[Tin Falcon]

I have a 1937 floor model SB. The lathe you are looking at is near pristine? and has a nice amount of tooling. Go for it!!!!
Tin

[vdisney]

In my mind, a SBL 9" Model A is one of the best home lathes there are. Like mentioned, the bore is only 3/4", but tooling is easy to get. Mine is a 1947 with 36" between centers, and I love it. Good luck

[gundog]

Either this guy does not know what he has or it is already gone. I am working so I can't go get it and I already have a 10K. It even has the v belt drive adding 2 more speeds and no slipping.
GD

http://portland.craigslist.org/clc/tls/271644089.html

[speedsport]

The lathe was never in a working enviroment, home hobby shop from day one, original owner, bed is showing fish scales from end to end, lots of extra tooling, including 4 chucks. top price?

[torker]

The joke. Let's see... There is a nearly new 1965 South Bend American made lathe for sale. It has a quick change gearbox and power crossfeed. I can afford it. It is what I was looking for. I wonder if it is a decent little lathe?

Sorry, Speedsport. Jump on it. You won't find a better lathe in that size for less than 10K.
LOL! T'was early....I don't see the quandry either. One of those up here would easily go for $2000 Cnd or better.
If you have any doubts...go to HF and try moving a few things around on one of their small lathes...then try the silky ol' Southbend. You'll buy the SB9 and be glad you did.
If you miss out on this....shame on you!
Russ

[gundog]

If you are asking what the top price should be. They usually bring $800-$1200 on flea bay depending on the tooling included sometimes more. That is why I would grab this one close to me for $300 in a second I would just resale it for 3 times the price.
GD

[torker]

Speedy...So where's the pics? Surely it's in your basement/shop by now...right?

[Evan]

Tryp and I were at a farm estate auction a couple of years ago and a plain old Atlas flatbed 12x36 benchtop lathe with a good selection of tooling in average condition went for $3000, not including premium. Around here that SB would be a bargain at $2000 cdn.

[speedsport]

OK, somebody walk me through the process of posting pics and I will post pics. BTW, the guy still has the original receipt from Southbend, April 28, 1965
Lathe with large dials, $548.00. It's not like this thing is next door, gonna cost me plenty to get it here, he won't ship.

[garyphansen]

I have a floor model 1940 Model A 9N lathe with a four foot bed. I plan on keeping it until I die. You can pry my lathe and my firearms out of my cold dead fingers. Gary P. Hansen

[torker]

OK, somebody walk me through the process of posting pics and I will post pics. BTW, the guy still has the original receipt from Southbend, April 28, 1965
Lathe with large dials, $548.00. It's not like this thing is next door, gonna cost me plenty to get it here, he won't ship.
Even if you have to spend some bucks to get it, you still got a good deal. Sounds like it was well looked after.
For posting pics...see the first post (sticky)on the the General page.

[speedsport]

http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i174/speedsport/

[torker]

Speedy...careful there!
Best is to right click on the url for the Image and copy then paste the pics into your thread. You're almost there.
Russ

[Evan]

I would love to have a second SB. The one for sale at http://www.bellmachineryltd.com/used_lathes.htm is very tempting but I have a lot of others things to spend on this year.

[speedsport]

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i174/speedsport/sb93.jpg

[speedsport]

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i174/speedsport/sb97.jpg

[speedsport]

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i174/speedsport/sb92.jpg

[torker]

Speed!!! Holy Crap! I thought you said that thing was pristine??? I'm thinking more like brand new with a lil' demo time. You got a lathe that your greatgrand kids could enjoy many years down the road.
That guy...he doesn't have an old barn does he? (I'm still lookin for one of those old Vettes you hear about) :D
Russ

[speedsport]

Torker,
Does that mean good or bad?, I think the old guy has had some kinda health problems and is now wheelchair bound, he also has a Atlas horz mill thats in about the same condition. I think with a little WD40 and some scotchbrite the thing will look great. What do you think it's worth?

[Tinkerer]

Speed I hope you have some paper on that else someone may backdoor your deal. Does that guy want to sell the horizontal mill as well if so PM me his contact info ;).

[torker]

Torker,
Does that mean good or bad?, I think the old guy has had some kinda health problems and is now wheelchair bound, he also has a Atlas horz mill thats in about the same condition. I think with a little WD40 and some scotchbrite the thing will look great. What do you think it's worth?
Let me put it this way...My last SB...a 9C, was VERY well used. Had seen a few crashes, the three jaw was worn out, cross slide nut was waay sloppy, etc. Still a good ol' lathe and came with a lot of tooling. I sold it for $1800 Cnd. I must have had 20 phone calls on it in a week. The first caller bought it on the spot after we turned a few things with it to show him that it would still turn just fine.
Didn't you say $500 plus travel? I'd spend a few bucks traveling to get that.
And I wouldn't let it sit too long either. That thing is a beauty!
Russ (ya, I know...I got a soft spot for ol' SB's)

[topct]

What does the guy want for it? And if thats the mill in the background I might try to get it at the same time.

It is missing the dobber. But that is probably in the drawer.

As to what it's worth? It is a very nice one for sure. :D

Is the guy wanting an offer? Or does he have a price in mind?

[Evan]

That lathe looks nearly new. Do whatever you can afford to get it, you won't be disappointed, just spoiled. I would buy the mill too.

It isn't just a matter of the brand name. There simply are no lathes like that being made anymore. Nobody can afford to produce machines with what used to be the ordinary level of craftmanship that went into it. It will run nearly forever without trouble if well looked after.

BTW, that's the 12 speed model which means it has a max rpm of about 1200 as well as a fully hardened spindle. If you can get the bench too. That's a great bench.

[garyphansen]

If you add oil to the bearings before you start it up every time, it will run three days short of forever! Gary P. Hansen

[speedsport]

Hi! Ronnies wife here.. to post the pics ( he still can't figger it out )...
So, how many lathes does a man need? .. he already has 2 :)

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i174/speedsport/sb910.jpg

[lane]

It aint a matter of how many lathes a man needs . Its how many he can get. Each ones money in the bank if they look like that..

[torker]

If you read his sig line...you'll see he needs at least one more...after he gets the 9A :D (four to tow)
Russ

[topct]

Hi! Ronnies wife here.. to post the pics ( he still can't figger it out )...
So, how many lathes does a man need? .. he already has 2 :)

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i174/speedsport/sb910.jpg

But this is the good one.:D

[speedsport]

Don't pay any attention to the wife, she has about 6 sewing machines, from a super heavy duty harness machine to some kind of whirly-ma-jig.

[torker]

I can't find my old school books but I'm pretty sure that in math class they taught us that 1 sewing machine = 1 lathe/1 mill. A harness sewing machine is = 1 surface grinder/ 1 small shaper/1 T+C grinder.
If I remember right, Mrs. Andrews, my old teacher....was NEVER wrong! :D

[Evan]

Ronnie's wife,

Some guys collect fast cars, some collect fast boats and some collect fast women. Seems Ron would like to collect old lathes, at home. Which would you prefer? :D

[Tin Falcon]

speedsport:
Were you able to get it?
Tin

[speedsport]

The lathe sold for $2,550.00. I bid $2100.00 and thought I had it but was not to be. My wife told me to bid 3 grand but I didn't want it that bad. Does anybody here think it was worth 3K?

[Tin Falcon]

The condition on that lathe is what made it a rare find. if you paid someone or did a propper rebuid/ overhaul/ restoration to get one in like new condition it could cost quite a bit. If you had south bend do it likely more than the $3000.
The other concern with an older perfect lathe is are you afaid to use it if fear of somthing happening that will destroy the value. I got mine from a dealer paid about a thrid of what that one whent for it was a "University Lathe" from a college lathe so never saw production. It is in good shape.But a bit older.1937 My guess is the dealer only paid a couple hundred for it. Prices are funny sometimes.
Regards
Tin

[speedsport]

Falcon,
Had I won the auction my plan was to spend a lot of time cleaning and then pickle it for investment purposes, I am too much of a newbie to risk crashing it and doing damage.