Leblond lathe history. This is what I had stated in my first post. Table of Contents Contact LeBlond for OES S-M Parts The History of Standard Modern & LeBlond Need S-M Components? Key Standard Modern Maintenance Procedure Lubrication on the S-M Series 4000 Lathe Helping You Service Vintage S-M Lathes KEY TAKEAWAYS Leblond is This lathe really looks to be 1915-1925 vintage in all its details, and exactly like a Heavy Duty. is a service and support company for LeBlond lathes and other metal cutting machines. Thus, we have an extensive product knowledge of LeBlond lathes and are here to make sure your LeBlond machines continue to provide the performance for which the LeBlond name is recognized. It's a 17" Heavy Duty, with a Turret on the cross-slide. Wow! Discover the resource that is the LeBlond Ltd. Any info is appreciated-Thanks! The old LeBlond Regal lathes of the late 30's-40's all had threaded spindle noses as standard equipment. He followed with designs for single and multiple-spindle drills, chucking lathes, bicycle crank lathes, cutter grinders and milling machines. The US military left many of those machines behind In 1981 the company merged with Japanese machine tool maker Makino Milling Machine Co. are all 1" wider than several other 13" Leblonds I picked up as part of the deal. ISO 46 oil in the headstock ( I use tractor hydraulic oil, which is an ISO 46 oil and contains anti-foam and anti-corrosion additives). That should be an 8' bed, which is the shortest they list. If the lathe has faceplate and chucks furnished with it, this is a plus. Another mystery in the LeBlond history is unearthed! Well, whatever it is, it's a nice old machine, well worth restoring and keeping. I think LeBlond discontinued the 10" round head lathes sometime in the late 1930's or early 40's, prior to WWII, when they brought out the 13" and larger Regal lathes. The chuck is the lathe appendage with which you interact all day long and a quality chunk really gives the machine a million dollar feel. A Regal lathe having plastic shifter levers would likely be built at some time later. Is it a 16" swing? I believe that was the smallest size Heavy Duty, back in those days. Thank you gusy for the help over the years. , they will at least tell you the date of manufacture and who the original buyer/owner of your lathe was. 4 lathes, 3 milling machines later and I think that was a correct prediction. In 1891 a contract to build lathes and lathe attachments for a firm that would become the American Tool Works launched the machine-tool career that would make ''LeBlond Lathes'' internationally famous. Its my understanding that LeBlond started building their own lathe product line in 1892. The lathes were rigged and moved into location, studbolts run into the sole plates, and the lathes full weight came to bear on the sole plates. Hi Folks, As part of my assortment of older machinery is the big old LeBlond. When the lathe was ordered, the buyer could specify 'plain headstock cover' or words to that effect. As a result of a joint venture with Makino Milling Machine, LeBlond Makino Machine Tool Company was formed in 1981. Including what appears to be the scab on hard outer ways Nice short "home shop size" if you just have to have nearly 16,000 Lb of no nonsense lathe - with the L3 spindle nose LeBlonde Heavy Duty Engine Lathe - tools - by owner - sale Some seemingly applicable specs from '47 - compliments of LeBlond built very good lathes. Stay up to date with advancements in lathe technology and machining techniques to optimize your utilization of the lathe and unlock its full potential. K. It is there to allow the lathe operator to roll the input shaft a bit to get the gears to line up and mesh when shifting them. 220V power in our surplus auctions. They asked for a serial number I just acquired a 1918 LeBlond Heavy Duty conehead lathe. If it's in good running condition, it'll be a strong lathe that you'll use for decades, and a bargain for $700. That was the high end of the Regular Pattern size lathes. The only Leblond lathe experience I have is with a 15" Dual Drive which is a deluxe machine. Looking for someone to save this old lathe. The bed, saddle, headstock gearcase, etc. From the lathe. After contacting Leblond LTD , this is what I found out about the little 10" lathe. </p> <p>In 1996, LeBlond Makino The folks at LeBlond Ltd. May 22, 2021 · I am looking to buy my first lathe, and I am having trouble identifying the year model. First off, there are no parts available for it I found a leblond regal 15 made in the 40s-50's for sell with a 3hp motor with a 48 inch long bed. It would be a shame to scrap this. Came across this on CL. LeBlond Lathes are old friends in many shops. LeBlond company. But you have to understand what's involved in acquiring a lathe like this. Don't be afraid of the LeBlond as far as function goes. Said LeBlond told him it was too old to trace vintage. Aug 19, 2015 · A look at the history behind LeBlond's historic Regal and its current RKL metal lathe. com/ Manufacturer Class: Metal Working Machinery R. I recently picked up a September 1909 issue of Machinery on ebay, and by pure luck, there's a quick two page article in it announcing the new Heavy Duty series lathes from the R. The "Regal" series was LeBlond's light-duty series. , the new entity being Le Blond Makino Machine Tool Co. LeBlond made a last ditch effort (late 70's-early 80's ?) to keep in the game as a lathe builder and had Regal lathes partially built in Singapore to the same design. But a LeBlond Lathe—even though it is your first one—is more than a new face in the shop. It is a leblond dual drive. The other thing to look for on that Roundhead Regal is how the Headstock casting is made. During the Depression he developed the Regal, a low-cost, high-performance engine lathe produced in volume using an assembly line. Can anyone reference a 3-digit serial number? The 1911 catalog shows a very similar lathe on pages 34 and 35 (21" on 8' bed) Mine is LeBlond's detail appears to call for chipping the surface of the concrete to expose aggregate and using some klnd of flowable chemical grout (resin type grout). At least it should be. A properly maintained LeBLond lathe can turn quality, precise parts for many years. The folks at LeBlond Ltd. In 1931 they introduced their "Regal" line of lathes which were lighter and more affordable. Helping a friend out. LeBlond Machine Tool Company to manufacture metal cutting lathes. is more than a plant, selling just new LeBlond lathes and K. Money well spent. could not do anything with it. Main difference is The shop where I bought my 10" Montgomery Ward, and today a 9" South Bend, has a large LeBlond Regal. It is also a fully functioning library containing documentation on machines going as far back as prior to the 1940’s. Then this 16 or 17 inch lathe was called Lot 2. I think is is a Leblond. Going by the lathes. Serial number dates it to 1946. Early LeBlond lathes were built in groups or lots of 12, so your lathe was the 11th built in Lot 32. I have looked on ways and cannot find a punched model <p>In 1887, R. Before then they were building lathes for other companys. It has a large metal tag on it it that says Lebonde Regal, and its seems to be about a 60 inch bed, and about 12 inch. Don't have a picture yet but he has one with the quick change gearbox, not change gears, with a serial number of 923. Here is what I know: I searched the patents listed on the machine and the newest was granted in 1904. I have never had any difficulty finding willing buyers for these lathes. South Bend Lathe South Bend Lathe is a brand of machine tools. Learn about the history of some of the most common LeBlond replacement parts. Your lathe is known as a "standard" model Roundhead Regal. Re: Leblond Lathe History/Model Question by Harold_V » Sat Feb 26, 2005 9:19 am Would a 2000 RPM spindle be worthwhile on a 19 inch lathe. I searched for info and found a thread where my lathe was being discussed (roll around leblond save this old beast)was the title I think. It appears to be either an 18" or a 20" swing; I can't quite tell. I got it (and a number of other The next year he began producing the first lathe of his own design, a 14-in. Any suggestions are very much appreciated! Re: Leblond Lathe History/Model Question by Harold_V » Sat Feb 26, 2005 9:19 am Would a 2000 RPM spindle be worthwhile on a 19 inch lathe. Though the headstock controls were revised, this was all still unmistakably vintage LeBlond Regal. I just bought a 13" Leblond lathe. The top casting was planed off at the factory to remove the projecting part of the casting for the speed calculator. Lee grinders. If you contact LeBlond, Ltd. They started building them in 1892 when LeBlond got his first patent. I contacted LeBlond LTD and they told me the lathe was manufactured in 1917, and that was the extent of their information. A. It has been retrofitted with a electric motor. Just picked up my first lathe. I would like to know if I can get parts or use it as a huge boat anchor or even just LeBlond Ltd allows you to adapt to constant change by keeping your legacy equipment humming with OEM parts or modernizing with our new line of lathes. Table of Contents Contact LeBlond for OES S-M Parts The History of Standard Modern & LeBlond Need S-M Components? Key Standard Modern Maintenance Procedure Lubrication on the S-M Series 4000 Lathe Helping You Service Vintage S-M Lathes KEY TAKEAWAYS Leblond is Reprints of the LeBlond manual "Running the Regal", dealing with the roundhead Regal lathes are available on ebay, and a reprint will run you about 20 dollars. As I recall, LeBlond built their early lathes in batches of twelve, so yours is number 7 of 12 in Lot 76. I cannot find any brass label plate on it to find a model number. Also, learn about the differences between gearhead and variable speed lathes and the history of this machine tool. Was curious if anyone knows if they are any good and what its worth. I would like to know what model it is, and what else LeBlond was building at that time. He developed his first gear-driven headstock in 1903, and then began to develop crankshaft lathes for the automobile industry. K. . Hello everyone. After that, check for all the loose parts (if the lathe has loose change gears) like change gears, chucks, faceplates, steady rest, etc. Pictures to follow after I get it out of the trailer its resting in. That lathe has the LeBlond letters raised in the headstock casting and I do believe that this is the heaver version of that machine and has wider bed ways. Typical of the pre-WW2 LeBlond lathes was the 17" Heavy Duty. -LeBlond did use the same sliding pinion to engage/disengage the lead screw as they used on the subsequent "Roundhead" Regal lathes. Here’s how we feel about it, as concerns LeBlond Lathes: They are good lathes. It's a LeBlond Regular Pattern Engine Lathe (their official catalog name) from somewhere between 1910 and 1925. are very helpful, but my new machine stumped them. I called leblond for a manual and maybe some parts. The modern syntax of LeBlond serial numbers is number-letters-number. The info you received from LeBlond confirms this as 105 - 40 = 65 and 780 / 65 = 12 lathes per each lot. It has the original stand of cast iron which resembles the 30's lathes, and the I've had the lathe 'itch' for a while. Register free and start bidding today across more than 500 categories. LeBlond Regal 17" Lathe - tools - by owner - sale The thing that has me semi-interested in this one is its history with the Manitowoc Shipyard during WWII (building An old lathe like our LeBlond Roundhead Regal lathes, having seen umpteen years of use and a few moves, is hardly a toolroom lathe. As John Oder notes, most of the other "old line" US lathe builders stuck with Mechanical Clutch/Brake units well into the 1950's. However, with some tweaking, like checking tailstock centerline in relation to the headstock, these lathes can turn out some fine work. It is a LeBlond Regal 15" and that is about the extent of my knowledge on it right now. Just picked up this Leblond Regal 13. LeBlond Machine Tool Company, Madison & Edwards Road, 2980 Madison Road, Norwood, Hamilton County, OH Photos from Survey HAER OH-71 About this Item Few people realize that LeBlond Ltd. Prior to that, they built lathes under contract for another Cincinnati machine tool company. It was a plug and play lathe with a single phase 1 1/2 HP motor on it, along with 3 jaw chuck, 4 jaw chuck, faceplate, dog plate, steady rest, follower rest, threading stop, and taper attachment. uk site it must be late 1940's to early 1950's. Re: Leblond Lathe History/Model Question by Harold_V » Sat Feb 26, 2005 4:19 am Would a 2000 RPM spindle be worthwhile on a 19 inch lathe. ) ( the in September 30th 1932 it was sold to San Jose jr. Today's South Bend Lathe corporation is the successor to the original South Bend Lathe Works, an American machine tool builder that for many decades was one of the most important builders [citation needed] of metalworking lathes in the U. I do like to use insert cutting tools. Worried that your lathe is so old that there couldn't possibly be LeBlond Regal lathe parts for it? Don't fret. I posted this but it is in history so I made a new thread. The Southbend is probably more robust as it is a heavier machine but I really love the little LeBlond. college in San Jose , Ca )Had no idea it was that old, still in very good condition with min. Check out our precision high-speed metal lathes or a precision high-speed heavy-duty models with swings from 14″ to 21. Keep in mind LeBlond was making lathes for Lodge & Davis under contract 1891 - 1896. I am looking at an old Leblond Regal lathe. com/ Manufacturer Class: Metal Working Machinery LeBlond RKL Manual Lathes. ( Your 10” LeBlond lathe shipped June 2, 1932 to Herberts Machinery Co. Manufacturer Class: Metal Working Machinery History Products Machine Info Publication Reprints (156) Photo Index (50) Machine Registry (32) Images (15) Patents (380) Classified Ads (0) From talking to them I believe the very first 14 inch lathes were Lot 1. 1940s to late 1950s 13" and 15" lathe headstock and screwcutting gearbox. What's Some of the LeBlond 'roundhead' Regal lathes were ordered without the speed calculator. Table of Contents Contact LeBlond for OES S-M Parts The History of Standard Modern & LeBlond Need S-M Components? Key Standard Modern Maintenance Procedure Lubrication on the S-M Series 4000 Lathe Helping You Service Vintage S-M Lathes KEY TAKEAWAYS Leblond is Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for LeBlond of Cincinnati Specifications Roll Contouring Lathes 25" 32" 40" 50" at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products! LeBlond LTD has a treasure trove of records in their Cincinnati headquarters with original specifications and prints for old LeBlond lathes going as far back as the 1940s. Might have called the wrong number but does anyone out there have a way of finding this out? Thanks, Jim I recently purchased this lathe. I suspect it's from the late 30's or early 40's. R. Le Blond Machine Tool Co. Hello all, New to the forum. The gears in the case seem to be the same and many parts appear to interchange. They were manufactured in America, and in my opinion were made far better than the imported engine lathes available on the market today. Time to think about scratching it. O. Chris So I just picked up my first lathe. The serial number is C8698, from that I found it is a 15" LeBlond may have had the first available lathe, or Ertel may have had other LeBlond lathes in their shop and claimed they could use chucks and faceplates from those lathes on the new one. The front says 16 inch Leblond. Unless your Regal lathe is fitted with a clutch on the drive pulley, there should be a handwheel sticking out of the belt guard. An interesting account of LeBlond's later years and observations about some of their post WW2 machines can be found here. Supposedly, these had a somewhat lighter bed than the "standard" Roundhead Regal lathes. Description LeBlond Ltd’s product support team had collectively 160 years of service with LeBlond Machine Tool Company, LeBlond Makino and Makino. I would like to know a little history on the lathe, production year and manual and parts availability, and if it is generally consider a good all around lathe. As stated back when i first started posting here, was that i would get addicted to old cast iron. In 1996, LeBlond Makino Machine Tool Company changed its name to Makino. This was the last gasp for the company and, when the new Japanese owners, Makino, had finished with them, they had built their last proper engine lathes. I've never really cared for the look and feel of the newer Leblond Regal lathes but the older ones may be better. My new lathe is just 812. It was against the wall of a shop that can only be described as machine tool hoarding. On the side of the headstock, just before where it says "LeBlond" it should say either "18 Inch" or "20 Inch". Anyone have any info/catalogs/etc. LeBlond's first lathes were 12", 14" & 16" machines post 1896 (according to Ken Cope). Feb 28, 2024 · This article explores the origins of LeBlond lathes and where they are manufactured. Then in 1997, LeBlond Lathe Parts was founded to focus on the service and support of all LeBlond lathe equipment manufactured since 1887. engine lathe. World War II saw a tremendous number of LeBlond lathes manufactured to satisfy both domestic and overseas demand. uk site I have determined it was made between the 40's and 50's. They confirmed that my 1-7/8 x 8 WAS used on some early lathes like mine. LeBlond founded the R. Apparently, on the smaller lathes, between March 1937 and April 1947, Leblond used mostly 2-1/8 x 5 spindle threads. A older LeBlond lathe, even requiring some rebuilding, is invariably an infinitely better machine tool than anything available today. So, now we know when the Although late-model LeBlond Regal lathes all shared the same basic design (regardless of capacity), there were two types of headstock spindle-speed selection: a standard type with four levers and a "Servo-shift" model with speeds pre-selected and changed automatically by hydraulics. I have read all I can find and I think it is around 1920. The Regals were always the lightest models LeBlond built. ware. I just acquired a LeBlond Lathe, I am looking for a manual and a source of parts. Probably about 15" swing, but the headstock is not mounted, so I can't be precise. LeBlond Ltd. co. The light lathes had the inches of the swing raised in the casting where your spells out LeBlond. The heavier LeBlond lathes (the smallest of which, until the late 1920s, was of 15" swing, are illustrated on the pages with hyper-links at the top of this page. One fellow has already pulled out a Hendey geared head toolroom engine lathe, fully tooled, a surface grinder, tool & These Regal lathes had cast iron shifter levers & shifter knobs that were chrome plated. Company Website: https://leblondusa. com/ Manufacturer Class: Metal Working Machinery In the 1980s LeBlond had tried to produce their lathes, particularly the lighter "Regal" models, all (or in part) at a low-cost plant in Singapore. I don't know anything about old lathes. Library! R. I haven't measured but it looks like a 14" or 15". in the following days I'll post some detailed pics. The lathe is otherwise a very user-friendly machine and well built. Flat-belt drive and mounted on four nice cast iron feet and a large swarf/coolant collection tray between them. LeBlond Lathe Hello: I own both Leblond and Southbend. ” LeBlond champions versatility, as our manual lathes feature either gearhead or variable speed spindles. I have a 15" LeBlond and a 16" Southbend. I don't know how to correctly measure a lathe, but The heavier LeBlond lathes (the smallest of which, until the late 1920s, was of 15" swing, are illustrated on the pages with hyper-links at the top of this page. Leblond Lathe my Grandfather bought from rockwell in the 70's and it was bought from PMC Detroit, and has a British gov. My LeBlond lathe is in good condition, the usual wear on the bedways, but still able to hold close tolerances and turn true. Photo, Print, Drawing R. Oct 23, 2025 · The LeBlond company weathered this depression and emerged as one of the leading makers of mid-sized engine lathes, and a preferred supplier to the US Government. Lee grinders as well as parts for these and other machine tool product lines. Add to RFQ RKL1600V Series Variable Speed Lathe with Electronic Control Add to RFQ RKL1700G Series Geared Head High Speed Precision Lathe Add to RFQ RKL1700V Series Variable Speed Lathe with Electronic Control Add to RFQ RKL1800G Series Geared Head High Speed Heavy Duty Lathe Add to RFQ RKL1800V Series Variable Speed Lathe with Electronic Find your Serial Number Error 153 Video player configuration error LeBlond has these lubrication oils in stock as well as OES replacement parts for older LeBlond lathes and K. I have to clean it American Tool Works lathes of similar swing and vintage had headstocks weighing just under 1000lbs, and extra length beds weighing about 300lbs/foot in increments of 2 feet. LeBlond's legacy lives on Order Reprints Gift this Article By Steven Wright – Courier Contributor The result was a smaller, more accessible line of lathes, ranging from 10” to 21”, that were more affordable machines but still possessed the same “professional” features of the main LeBlond line of industrial-sized lathes. LeBlond does history better than a museum. on these? I emailed LeBlond and they very The LeBlond lathes with the capacity/swing cast into the headstock and with that speed setting dial calculator were said to be the "trainer" models. It is complete and appears original. To us old LeBlond fans, it's a fairly rare machine. LeBlond put this handwheel there for use in changing gears. S. It describes the new features, including the heavy angled front way. Below are some non-riddles we’ve gathered from search engine queries, customer questions on our contact forms and material from our LeBlond Insiders Facebook group: How much horsepower does a 17” (or any other model) Regal lathe have? With a rich history that spans over a century, LeBlond lathes have consistently delivered unparalleled performance and durability, making them a top choice for professionals and hobbyists alike. I refuse to buy new (imported) lathes for the plant I am in and go out of my way to buy older LeBlond lathes. It has 90 degree front V way and the ways are not replaceable. We get a new Lathe for the shop and find out it's got some amazing family history. Having worked as a machinist, and always on manual machines, my opinion is that you can't have too much spindle speed, especially if you use carbide tooling. Learn about the history of this renowned brand and where its lathes are produced. While the chinese chucks are pretty well made nowadays and would serve to some degree, I would highly recommend a quality chuck. Discover lathe uses. Throughout the company&rsquo;s history, LeBlond quickly became known for their quality engine lathes&rsquo;&nbsp;performance and longevity. You are machinists with questions on LeBlond Regal lathes. In conclusion, dating a LeBlond lathe requires careful consideration, research, and evaluation. LeBlond 17" Regal. “Pleased to Meet” one can be more than a brief formality. It was founded in 1997 after acquiring several parts businesses and has an extensive product knowledge of LeBlond lathes since 1887. and in the world. This lathe would be under a different patent number probably with a reference to the earlier one. Cincinnati, OH, U. I also found that LeBlond I began the process of quite literally excavating out the 13" Leblond Regal I bought. in Los Angeles Calif. stamp, Can't find anything like it on the internet. On the heavier lathes that LeBlond built, I would imagine LeBlond stuck with the mechanical clutches/brakes. Optimistically planning for future expansion, LeBlond nearly tripled his space by moving to Second and Plum Streets in 1888. These lathes have the name "LeBlond" cast into the headstock, and have a deeper bed than the "Trainer" models- which have the swing (13, 15, etc) cast in the same location on the headstock. See some common OEM parts for LeBlond lathes and learn what they do. We hope they are or will be in yours. everything is in my opinion in very good condition for the age. Bid on LeBlond Regal Lathe 13” model with a 3-jaw chuck, 4-jaw chuck, faceplates and tool holders. Call us at +1 (888) 532-5663 and select Option 1 (Monday – Friday 8am – 5pm Eastern) to order. 0kyhqe, 1o2l, 6yfouk, nzf01, vxyt5, kswoxx, qq5o0, jngld, fu7n, kujrqy,