Table Of Contents

 

TL;DR

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. This post provides information on how to utilize this resource to order replacement parts to keep your vintage LeBlond machinery in perfect operating condition.

 

What is LeBlond Exactly and How Can They Help Me with My Lathe Issues? 

 

LeBlond LTD is a machine tool supplier, providing new LeBlond and K.O. Lee machinery and service as well as OES parts for LeBlond, K.O. Lee, Standard Modern, Deka Drill and Johnson Press product lines,

We offer thousands of quality accessories and tooling items for your machining requirements.

 

Our Library is Ideal to Find More Details About Your Vintage LeBlond Lathe

 

Picture a library without dusty bookshelves or librarians who shush you into embarrassed silence. 

It is more of a resource library in the sense that it has documentation of detailed assembly drawings, microfilm, and aperture cards containing technical information on thousands of transactions and machine blueprints going as far back as the Word War II era!

Every item is perfectly preserved and kept safe to have a clear record of every part of a lathe. You’ll have zero issues with your LeBlond machine tool after we gather all the information needed to troubleshoot or find replacement parts for your LeBlond, regardless of age. 

 

The Regal Lathe: An Example of an Early LeBlond Lathe

 

LeBlond LTD has manufactured numerous machines throughout the years. One clear example is the Regal Lathe. Specifically, the 13-inch with the standard 4-lever all-geared (not a Servo-shift) headstock.

The LeBlond Regal Lathes model can be recognized by its 4-lever control and the Servo model by the use of two levers and a speed-selector dial. 

 

Known both as the LeBlond and later as the LeBlond Makino, several versions were offered starting in the late 1800’s through 1954. The serial number started with a letter and a production line roll-out number.

From 1954 to the early 1990’s, serial numbers started with a number 2 through 15, then a letter followed by the production line roll-out number.  The letters in the serial number stood for the size of the machine such as 13” (B), 15” (C), 17” (D), 19” (E), 21” (F) and 24″ and 26” (H), including several others like our Dual Drive, Tape Turn, Tool & Diemaker and Heavy Duty machines.

 

Where Can You Find Your LeBlond’s Lathe Serial Number? 

 

Thanks to our vast library, getting the model and year of your LeBlond machine is relatively simple. You don’t need to tear apart the machine to find it!

Commonly, we stamp the serial number, model number, amperage, voltage, and other vital information on a plate and mount it on the back of the electrical cabinet. 

These are the two locations for your serial numbers. Here’s a video to help you find it:

 

Once you have the serial number, call or submit a request.

We will then access tens of thousands of detailed part drawings and unit assembly drawings that occupy rows upon rows of neatly organized engineering files at the north end of our warehouse in Amelia, Ohio. 

 

Why Should You Have Your Old LeBlond Lathe Serial Number? 

 

Let’s use an analogy from the automotive industry.

 

You already know that year and model numbers are commonly found in all sorts of vehicles. In the case of LeBlond lathes, they’re equally important because models are a simplified representation of complex systems. 

 

They’re commonly used to get a bigger picture of understanding, predicting, or controlling the behavior of the machine. 

 

They can easily be categorized and work as a blueprint for the next generation of machines. 

 

When something is wrong with your car, you go to the dealer or repair shop, and the first question they ask you is the make and model.

 

The same applies to your lathe.

 

Knowing the year and model of your machine will definitely help to provide faster service by understanding the parts your machine needs and solving any issues it might have. 

 

What Else Can You Find in LeBlond’s Library?

Get details on vintage LeBlond machinery in the company's library.

The LeBlond documentation area also contains microfilm with machine history and bills of material. 

The machine history files are cataloged by serial number and include information such as a copy of the original sales order, the machine model, how the machine was configured initially, and the date of shipment.

How does this apply in the real world?

Hunting for a used LeBlond to refurbish? Get the serial number and you will know the original sale information in addition to the replacement parts you need to get extra years of additional service out of the machine.

We’ve also had customers find an old lathe in a relative’s garage or basement and were just curious how old the machine was.

Whatever the circumstances, the LeBlond Library is your resource for old LeBlond lathes.

If you have any specific questions, please leave a comment and we’ll be happy to help you.

If you’re looking for LeBlond replacement parts, click or tap HERE.

Or you can call us at (888) 532-5663 (Monday – Friday 8am – 5pm Eastern) and select Option 1.

We look forward to hearing from you!

 

💡KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • LeBlond has tens of thousands of machine blueprints and diagrams detailing specifications and other data on old lathes for approximately the last 80 years
  • Find the serial number of your LeBlond mounted on a plate on the back of the electrical cabinet
  • Knowing your machine’s serial number will help solve issues faster and prolong the life of your lathe