Page History: Powermatic Serial Numbers
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Page Revision: 2009/02/10 15:25
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.
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.
Format | Years | Comments |
| Before 1948 | No serial number data. |
| 1948 to 1953 | Early machines did not have serial numbers. |
mnnn | 1953 to 1955 | "m" is a digit that varied according to machine type. "nnn" is the number of the machine within this series. |
N-nnnn | 1955 to 1964 | "N" is the unit digit of the year, beginning in 1955. "nnnn" is the number of the machine for that year. |
6N-nnnn | 1965 to 1968 | "N" is the unit digit of the year, beginning in 1965. "nnnn" is the number of the machine for that year. |
NMM-nnnn | 1968 to 1977 | "N" is the unit digit of the year, beginning in 1968. |
NNMM-nnnn | 1968 to ???? | "NN" is the last two digits of the year, beginning in 1978. |
The above table provides general guidelines but if you should double-check against the detailed tables below.
Single-End Tenoners
Format | Years | Comments |
| | Model 2 |
| 1948 to 1953 | This model did not have serial numbers. |
| | Model 2A |
N-nnnn | 1955 to 1964 | The "N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1955. The "nnnn" is the number of the machine for that year. |
6N-nnnn | 1965 to 1968 | The "N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1965. The "nnnn" is the number of the machine for that year. |
N28-nnnn | 1968 to 1977 | The "N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1968. The "nnnn" is the number of the machine for that year. |
NN32-nnnn | 1978 to ???? | The "NN" is the last two digits of the year, beginning in 1978. The "nnnn" is the number of the machine for that year. |
Mortisers
Format | Years | Comments |
| | Model 2A Chain |
| 1948 to 1953 | This model did not have serial numbers. |
| | Model 15 Chain |
2nnn | 1953 to 1955 | The "nnn" is the number of the machine within this version. |
N-nnnn | 1955 to 1964 | The "N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1955. The "nnnn" is the number of the machine for that year. |
| | Model 30 Hydraulic Chain |
| 1955 | This model did not have serial numbers. |
| | Model 40 Hydraulic Chain |
| 1956 to 1960 | This model did not have serial numbers. |
| | Model 41 Hydraulic Chain |
| 1960 to ???? | This model did not have serial numbers. |
| | Model 5 Hydraulic Hollow Chisel |
| 1955 | There is no record of serial numbers for this model. |
| | Model 10 Hollow Chisel |
2nnn | 1948 to 1955 | The "nnn" is the number of the machine within this version. Beginning year (1948) is estimated. |
N-nnnn | 1955 to 1964 | The "N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1955. The "nnnn" is the number of the machine for that year. |
6N-nnnn | 1965 to 1968 | The "N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1965. The "nnnn" is the number of the machine for that year. |
N40-nnnn | 1968 to 1977 | The "N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1968. The "nnnn" is the number of the machine for that year. |
NN40-nnnn | 1978 to ???? | The "NN" is the last two digits of the year, beginning in 1978. The "nnnn" is the number of the machine for that year. |
Wood Lathes
Format | Years | Comments |
| | Model 45 |
N-1nnn | 1960 to 1968 | The "N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1960. The "nnn" is the number of the machine for that year. |
N45-nnnn | 1968 to 1977 | The "N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1968. The "nnnn" is the number of the machine for that year. |
NN45-nnnn | 1978 to ???? | The "NN" is the last two digits of the year, beginning in 1978. The "nnnn" is the number of the machine for that year. |
| | Model 90 |
0-nnnn | 1955 to 1968 | The "nnnn" is the number of the machine within this version. |
N90-nnnn | 1968 to 1977 | The "N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1968. The "nnnn" is the number of the machine for that year. |
NN90-nnnn | 1978 to ???? | The "NN" is the first two digits of the year, beginning in 1978. The "nnnn" is the number of the machine for that year. |
Jointers
===Scroll Saws===
Spindle Shaper
===Sanders===
Drill Presses
===Tilting Arbor Saw===
Wood-cutting Band Saws¶
===Metal-cutting Band Saws===
Planers