We have this Hardinge lathe at work, gathering dust, and I think I have finally convinced my bosses that we need to sell it since we have never used it since they bought it at an auction. The only thing is, I need to know what type of Hardinge it is before I can list it on ebay or in the classifieds. I'm not sure if it's classified as a "second operation" lathe since all the second operation lathes I see have a dovetail bed and this one doesn't. Not sure what you would call this type of bed. So if anyone can help identify it for me and perhaps give me an idea what it would be worth, would be a big help?
The serial number starts with a 59.


Thanks,
Carl

We have this Hardinge lathe at work, gathering dust, and I think I have finally convinced my bosses that we need to sell it since we have never used it since they bought it at an auction. The only thing is, I need to know what type of Hardinge it is before I can list it on ebay or in the classifieds. I'm not sure if it's classified as a "second operation" lathe since all the second operation lathes I see have a dovetail bed and this one doesn't. Not sure what you would call this type of bed. So if anyone can help identify it for me and perhaps give me an idea what it would be worth, would be a big help?
The serial number starts with a 59.


Thanks,
Carl

Well I can say it is OLD!! I couldn't quite make out the ways on it though.

Looks like a small bench top tool room lathe. Definitely a 5C spindle.

I'll look at the photos again

Carl,

It looks like a old split bed.

Check out this site, go down to the middle of the page.

http://www.engravingartist.com/tour/index.html

Jeff...

These are considered Second Operation lathes. They were a minimal option lathe for producing the back side of parted off production runs that met the need without all the frills to make capital budgets stretch to more spindles turning. They do not hold much home shop market value, but some industry finds a limited use. I've seen them sit in used machine dealers for years without a bite. Often parted out where common to the old chuckers and HLVH models.

Some were even sold without the bed. Sought after since they can be placed on a mill bed and used for crude CNC lathes among other things.

DC

Jeff,

That is a great link. It does look like the "1930s 2nd operation 4C 7" Hardinge lathe" (6th photo down from the top). The only real differences are that the one we have has a huge wood bench instead of that nice metal cabinet and the spindle has the taper on it for mounting the chuck instead of the thread. If the lathe we have had the metal cabinet and the motor ran off 220 home current I would buy it myself for a CNC lathe project but I would rather have a lathe with the dovetail bed.

We are considering parting it out instead of selling it as one piece but personally I would like to sell it as one piece to be over and done with it.

Thanks for your help guys. :)

Carl