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Introduction

The information below is taken from a Powermatic document that dates from the late 1970s. The original document is cryptic and difficult to understand so we have done our best to clarify the information and correlate it with data from various other sources.

A scan of the original document is available here: http://vintagemachinery.org/Files/PDF/Powermatic/SerialNumbers.pdf

Powermatic changed their serial numbering system several times over the years, and the timing varied depending on the type of machine. Therefore, interpreting a serial number requires knowledge of the machine type. However, there are some general patterns that are followed by most, though not all serial numbers.
FormatYearsComments
Before 1948No serial number data.
1948—53Early machines did not have serial numbers.
mnnn 1953—55"m" is a digit that varied according to machine type. "nnn" is a number.
N-nnnn 1955—64"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1955. "nnnn" is a number.
6N-nnnn 1965—68"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1965. "nnnn" is a number.
NMM-nnnn 1968—77"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1968. "nnnn" is a number.
NNMM-nnnn 1978—??"NN" is the last two digits of the year, beginning in 1978. "nnnn" is a number.

In the last two entries above, "MM" is a two-digit number that identifies the model and is usually—but not always—the same as the model number, e.g., "66" for the Model 66 tablesaw, but "32" for the model 15 mortiser.

The above table provides general guidelines but you should double-check against the detailed tables below.

Examples

A Powermatic Model 60 8-inch jointer has serial number 3451. According to the table under "Jointers", below, the model 60 used the pattern "3nnn" during the period 1957 to 1960.

Another Model 60 jointer has serial number 8-3932, which matches the pattern "N-nnnn", placing it between 1960 and 1968; "N" is 8 so this jointer was made in 1968.

A Model 400 hollow-chisel mortiser has serial number 540045. The serial-number table for Mortisers, below, does not have any data for a Model 400. But looking at the general table, above, we tentatively decide that it is of the form "NMM-nnnn" where MM is either 40 or 400, N is 5, and "nnn" is 045, implying that the machine is the 45th such machine made in 1975. For this mortiser we would be well advised to use other clues such as the original paint color to verify this date. We can do this by comparing the machine to other machines from 1975 in the Photo Index.

Caveats

Powermatic was inconsistent in following their serial-number patterns: dashes might be omitted, leading zeroes may or may not be present in the "nnnn" portion of the numbers, and after adopting revised serial number format, they sometimes reverted back to the older pattern for a while.

Band Saws, Wood-Cutting

FormatYearsComments
Model 80
N-nnnn1955—??"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1955. "nnnn" is a number.
Model 81
N-nnnn1960—68"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1960. "nnnn" is a number.
N81-nnnn1968—77"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1968. "nnnn" is a number.
NN81-nnnn1978—??"NN" is the last two digits of the year, beginning in 1978. "nnnn" is a number.
Model 140
N-nnnn1955—??"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1955. "nnnn" is a number.
Model 141
N-nnnn1961—68"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1955. "nnnn" is a number.
N41-nnnn1968—77"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1968. "nnnn" is a number.
NN41-nnnn1978—??"NN" is the last two digits of the year, beginning in 1978. "nnnn" is a number.

Band Saws, Metal-cutting

FormatYearsComments
Model 2
N-nnnn1965—68"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1965. "nnnn" is a number.
N02-nnnn1968—??"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1968. "nnnn" is a number.
Model 5
N-nnnn1964—68"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1964. "nnnn" is a number.
N05-nnnn1968—??"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1968. "nnnn" is a number.
Model 6
N06-nnnn1970—??"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1970. "nnnn" is a number.
Model 8
N-nnnn1964—68"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1964. "nnnn" is a number.
N08-nnnn1968—??"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1970. "nnnn" is a number.
Model 83 (Friction cutting)
No serial numbers.
Model 85
No serial numbers.
Model 86
N-nnn1959—??"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1959. "nnn" is a number.
Model 87
N-nnnn1960—68"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1960. "nnnn" is a number.
N87-nnnn1968—77"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1968. "nnnn" is a number.
NN87-nnnn1978—??"NN" is the last two digits of the year, beginning in 1978. "nnnn" is a number.
Model 88
N88-nnnn1974—78"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1974. "nnnn" is a number.
NN88-nnnn1978—??"NN" is the last two digits of the year, beginning in 1978. "nnnn" is a number.
Model 89
N89-nnnn1969—??"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1969. "nnnn" is a number.

Drill Presses

FormatYearsComments
Model 1100
N-nnnn1955—63"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1955. "nnnn" is a number.
Model 1150
N-0nnn1964—68"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1964. "nnnn" is a number.
N15X-nnnn1968—76"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1968. "X" is the letter V or S. "nnnn" is a number.
Model 1150A
N15X-nnnn1976—78"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1976. "X" is the letter V or S. "nnnn" is a number.
NN15X-nnnn1978—78"NN" is the last two digits of the year, beginning in 1978. "X" is the letter V or S. "nnnn" is a number.
Model 1200
N-1nnn1955—64"nnnn" is a number.
NN-nnnn1965—68"NN" is the last two digits of the year, beginning in 1965. "nnnn" is a number.
N20X-nnnn1968—78"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1976. "X" is the letter V or S. "nnnn" is a number.
NN20X-nnnn1978—78"NN" is the last two digits of the year, beginning in 1978. "X" is the letter V or S. "nnnn" is a number.

Jointers

FormatYearsComments
Model 50 (6 inch)
11nnn1955—60"nnn" is a number.
N-nnnn1960—65"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1960. "nnn" is a number.
6N-nnnn1965—68"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1965. "nnnn" is a number.
N50-nnnn1968—77"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1968. "nnnn" is a number.
NN50-nnnn1978—??"NN" is the last two digits of the year, beginning in 1978. "nnnn" is a number.
Model 60 (8 inch)
3nnn1957—1960"nnn" is a number.
N-nnnn1958—67"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1958. "nnnn" is a number.
N61-nnnn1968—77"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1968. "nnnn" is a number.
NN61-nnnn1978—??"NN" is the first two digits of the year, beginning in 1978. "nnnn" is a number.

Lathes, Wood

FormatYearsComments
Model 45
N-1nnn1960—65?"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1960. "nnn" is a number.
6N-nnnn1965—68"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1965. "nnnn" is a number.
N45-nnnn1968—77"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1968. "nnnn" is a number.
NN45-nnnn1978—??"NN" is the last two digits of the year, beginning in 1978. "nnnn" is a number.
Model 90
0-nnnn1955—68"nnnn" is a number.
N90-nnnn1968—77"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1968. "nnnn" is a number.
NN90-nnnn1978—??"NN" is the first two digits of the year, beginning in 1978. "nnnn" is a number.

Mortisers

FormatYearsComments
Model 2A Chain
1948—53According to Powermatic this model did not have serial numbers, but we have seen at least one example that did (S/N 2050).
Model 15 Chain
2nnn1953—55"nnn" is a number.
N-nnnn1955—64"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1955. "nnnn" is a number.
Model 30 Hydraulic Chain
1955This model did not have serial numbers.
Model 40 Hydraulic Chain
1956—60This model did not have serial numbers.
Model 41 Hydraulic Chain
1960—??This model did not have serial numbers.
Model 5 Hydraulic Hollow Chisel
1955There is no record of serial numbers for this model.
Model 10 Hollow Chisel
2nnn1948—55"nnn" is a number. Beginning year (1948) is estimated.
N-nnnn1955—64"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1955. "nnnn" is a number.
6N-nnnn1965—68"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1965. "nnnn" is a number.
N40-nnnn1968—77"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1968. "nnnn" is a number.
NN40-nnnn1978—??"NN" is the last two digits of the year, beginning in 1978. "nnnn" is a number.

Planers

FormatYearsComments
Model 2A (20 inch)
1930—??This model did not have serial numbers.
Model 3A (24 inch)
1930—??This model did not have serial numbers.
Model 12 (12 inch)
1948—50This model did not have serial numbers until June 1950.
nnnn1950—??"nnnn" is a number.
Models CD 16, CE 16, CS 16 (16 inch)
19??—??These models did not have serial numbers.
Model E 16 (16 inch)
nnnn19??—??"nnnn" is a number, beginning with 7001.
Model 100 (12 inch)
nnnn1955—55"nnnn" is a number, beginning with 6200.
N-nnnn1955—64"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1955. "nnnn" is a number.
6N-nnnn1965—68"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1965. "nnnn" is a number.
N00-nnnn1968—77"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1968. "nnnn" is a number.
NN00-nnnn1978—??"NN" is the last two digits of the year, beginning in 1978. "nnnn" is a number.
Model 160 (16 inch)
N-nnnn1959—67"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1959. "nnnn" is a number.
N60-nnnn1968—77"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1968. "nnnn" is a number.
NN60-nnnn1978—??"NN" is the last two digits of the year, beginning in 1978. "nnnn" is a number.
Model 180 (18 inch)
N-nnn1961—68"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1961. "nnn" is a number.
N80-nnnn1968—77"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1968. "nnnn" is a number.
NN80-nnnn1978—??"NN" is the last two digits of the year, beginning in 1978. "nnnn" is a number.
Model 220 (20 inch)
nnnn1952—55"nnnn" is a number, beginning with number 5100.
Model 221 (20 inch)
N-nnnn1955—64"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1955. "nnnn" is a number, beginning with 5525.
6N-nnnn1965—67"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1965. "nnnn" is a number.
N22-nnnn1968—77"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1968. "nnnn" is a number.
NN22-nnnn1978—??"NN" is the last two digits of the year, beginning in 1978. "nnnn" is a number.
Model 224 (24 inch)
nnnn1952—55"nnnn" is a number, beginning with number 5100.
nnnn1955—57"nnnn" is a number, beginning with number 8001.
Model 225 (24 inch)
nnnn1957—60"nnnn" is a number, beginning with number 8360.
N-nnnn1960—67"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1965. "nnnn" is a number.
N25-nnnn1968—77"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1968. "nnnn" is a number.
NN25-nnnn1978—??"NN" is the last two digits of the year, beginning in 1978. "nnnn" is a number.

Sanders

FormatYearsComments
Model 30
N-nnnn1960—68"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1960. "nnnn" is a number.
N30-nnnn1968—77"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1968. "nnnn" is a number.
Model 30A
N30Annnn1969—77"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1969. "nnn" is a number.
NN30-nnnn1978—??"NN" is the last two digits of the year, beginning in 1978. "nnnn" is a number.
Model 30B
N30-nnnn1968—77"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1968. "nnnn" is a number.
NN30-nnnn1978—??"NN" is the last two digits of the year, beginning in 1978. "nnnn" is a number.
Model 33
N-nnnn1960—68"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1960. "nnnn" is a number.
N33-nnnn1968—77"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1968. "nnnn" is a number.
Model 33B
N33-nnnn1968—77"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1968. "nnnn" is a number.
NN33-nnnn1978—??"NN" is the last two digits of the year, beginning in 1978. "nnnn" is a number.
Model 35
N-nnnn1960—68"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1960. "nnnn" is a number.
N35-nnnn1968—77"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1968. "nnnn" is a number.
Model 35B
N35-nnnn1968—77"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1968. "nnnn" is a number.
NN35-nnnn1978—??"NN" is the last two digits of the year, beginning in 1978. "nnnn" is a number.

Scroll Saws

FormatYearsComments
Model 95
1948—53This model did not have serial numbers.
N-nnn1961—68"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1961. "nnnn" is a number.
N95-nnnn1968—77"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1968. "nnnn" is a number.
NN95-nnnn1978—??"NN" is the last two digits of the year, beginning in 1978. "nnnn" is a number.

Spindle Shaper

FormatYearsComments
Model 25
N-nnnn1961—65"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1955. "nnnn" is a number.
Model 26
6N-nnnn1965—68"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1965. "nnnn" is a number.
N26-nnnn1968—77"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1968. "nnnn" is a number.
NN26-nnnn1978—??"NN" is the last two digits of the year, beginning in 1978. "nnnn" is a number.

Tilting Arbor Saw (Tablesaw)

FormatYearsComments
Model 62
N-nnn1964—68"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1964. "nnn" is a number.
N62-nnnn1968—77"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1968. "nnnn" is a number.
NN62-nnnn1978—??"NN" is the last two digits of the year, beginning in 1978. "nnnn" is a number.
Model 65
N-nnn1955—65"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1955. "nnn" is a number.
NN-nnn1965—??"NN" is the last two digits of the year, beginning in 1965. "nnn" is a number.
Model 66
66-nnn1965—68"nnn" is a number.
N66-nnnn1968—77"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1968. "nnnn" is a number.
NN66-nnnn1978—??"NN" is the last two digits of the year, beginning in 1978. "nnnn" is a number.
Model 68
N68-nnnn1972—78"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1972. "nnnn" is a number.
NN68-nnnn1978—??"NN" is the last two digits of the year, beginning in 1978. "nnnn" is a number.
Model 70
1nnn1954—55"nnn" is a number.
N-nnnn1955—60"nnnn" is a number.
Model 71
N-nnn1960—??"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1960. "nnn" is a number, beginning with "600" in 1960.
Model 72
N-nnn1958—67"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1958. "nnn" is a number.
N72-nnn1968—77"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1968. "nnn" is a number.
NN72-nnn1978—??"NN" is the last two digits of the year, beginning in 1978. "nnn" is a number.

Tenoners, Single-End

FormatYearsComments
Model 2
1948—53This model did not have serial numbers.
Model 2A
N-nnnn1955—64"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1955. "nnnn" is a number.
6N-nnnn1965—68"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1965. "nnnn" is a number.
N28-nnnn1968—77"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1968. "nnnn" is a number.
NN32-nnnn1978—??"NN" is the last two digits of the year, beginning in 1978. "nnnn" is a number.

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