50953, 8" x 3-1/2' 408-ZF, 1932 I came across your site while trying to date my grandfather's Southbend lathe. he bought it new and it was handed down to me after his passing. I'm the only one in the family that has taking an interest in metal working, so much so that my entire garage is now a machine shop, including a CNC milling machine. Anway, I'd love to add to your archive, but I've not been able to locate the serial number. I've only found the catalog number on a plaque on the door covering the change gears. This lathe is in superb condition and I still use it when I need something with a little more finesse than my larger Clausing. Thanks a lot for that info. I guarantee I would have never found it otherwise. It had a thin layer of grease on it which obscured it from view. I'm pretty sure my grandfather bought it from a place called Mine and Smelter supply, here in El Paso. Several of the manuals have a sticker indicating this and there are remnants of the same blue sticker on the lathe. I wish I was a little older when he passed, as I'm sure that he had a all the details of the lathe in one of his files. He kept superb records. I attached a couple photos. The serial number of this unit is 50953 which puts it at 1932, according to your table. It also looks like it's a 408-ZF It was originally bought by W. J. Chesak (my grandfather) and remains in the family, in my garage shop. It's complete with the change gears and many of the other accessories and tool holders. The only part that was missing, when I started machining with it (35 years ago), was the little half-moon for the tool post. But a friend had one and we installed it, wired it and started using it. For many years, I used it basically as a drill press, with a chuck in the head-stock and a flat tailstock attachment. This little lathe had a lot to do with what I do and where I am today. Thanks a lot for the information and the cool website. Eric