Page History: Powermatic Serial Numbers

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Table of Contents [Hide/Show] Introduction       Examples       Caveats    Band Saws, Wood-Cutting    Band Saws, Metal-cutting    Drill Presses    Jointers    Lathes, Wood    Mortisers    Planers    Sanders    Scroll Saws    Spindle Shaper    Tilting Arbor Saw (Tablesaw)    Tenoners, Single-End

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.

Format	Years	Comments
	Before 1948	No serial number data.
	1948—53	Early 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	1968—??	"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¶

Format	Years	Comments
		Model 80
N-nnnn	1955—??	"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1955. "nnnn" is a number.
		Model 81
N-nnnn	1960—68	"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1960. "nnnn" is a number.
N81-nnnn	1968—77	"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1968. "nnnn" is a number.
NN81-nnnn	1978—??	"NN" is the last two digits of the year, beginning in 1978. "nnnn" is a number.
		Model 140
N-nnnn	1955—??	"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1955. "nnnn" is a number.
		Model 141
N-nnnn	1961—68	"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1955. "nnnn" is a number.
N41-nnnn	1968—77	"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1968. "nnnn" is a number.
NN41-nnnn	1978—??	"NN" is the last two digits of the year, beginning in 1978. "nnnn" is a number.

Band Saws, Metal-cutting¶

Format	Years	Comments
		Model 2
N-nnnn	1965—68	"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1965. "nnnn" is a number.
N02-nnnn	1968—??	"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1968. "nnnn" is a number.
		Model 5
N-nnnn	1964—68	"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1964. "nnnn" is a number.
N05-nnnn	1968—??	"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1968. "nnnn" is a number.
		Model 6
N06-nnnn	1970—??	"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1970. "nnnn" is a number.
		Model 8
N-nnnn	1964—68	"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1964. "nnnn" is a number.
N08-nnnn	1968—??	"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-nnn	1959—??	"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1959. "nnn" is a number.
		Model 87
N-nnnn	1960—68	"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1960. "nnnn" is a number.
N87-nnnn	1968—77	"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1968. "nnnn" is a number.
NN87-nnnn	1978—??	"NN" is the last two digits of the year, beginning in 1978. "nnnn" is a number.
		Model 88
N88-nnnn	1974—78	"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1974. "nnnn" is a number.
NN88-nnnn	1978—??	"NN" is the last two digits of the year, beginning in 1978. "nnnn" is a number.
		Model 89
N89-nnnn	1969—??	"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1969. "nnnn" is a number.

Drill Presses¶

Format	Years	Comments
		Model 1100
N-nnnn	1955—63	"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1955. "nnnn" is a number.
		Model 1150
N-0nnn	1964—68	"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1964. "nnnn" is a number.
N15X-nnnn	1968—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-nnnn	1976—78	"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1976. "X" is the letter V or S. "nnnn" is a number.
NN15X-nnnn	1978—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-1nnn	1955—64	"nnnn" is a number.
NN-nnnn	1965—68	"NN" is the last two digits of the year, beginning in 1965. "nnnn" is a number.
N20X-nnnn	1968—78	"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1976. "X" is the letter V or S. "nnnn" is a number.
NN20X-nnnn	1978—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¶

Format	Years	Comments
		Model 50 (6 inch)
11nnn	1955—60	"nnn" is a number.
N-nnnn	1960—65	"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1960. "nnn" is a number.
6N-nnnn	1965—68	"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1965. "nnnn" is a number.
N50-nnnn	1968—77	"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1968. "nnnn" is a number.
NN50-nnnn	1978—??	"NN" is the last two digits of the year, beginning in 1978. "nnnn" is a number.
		Model 60 (8 inch)
3nnn	1957—1960	"nnn" is a number.
N-nnnn	1958—67	"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1958. "nnnn" is a number.
N61-nnnn	1968—77	"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1968. "nnnn" is a number.
NN61-nnnn	1978—??	"NN" is the first two digits of the year, beginning in 1978. "nnnn" is a number.

Lathes, Wood¶

Format	Years	Comments
		Model 45
N-1nnn	1960—65?	"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1960. "nnn" is a number.
6N-nnnn	1965—68	"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1965. "nnnn" is a number.
N45-nnnn	1968—77	"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1968. "nnnn" is a number.
NN45-nnnn	1978—??	"NN" is the last two digits of the year, beginning in 1978. "nnnn" is a number.
		Model 90
0-nnnn	1955—68	"nnnn" is a number.
N90-nnnn	1968—77	"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1968. "nnnn" is a number.
NN90-nnnn	1978—??	"NN" is the first two digits of the year, beginning in 1978. "nnnn" is a number.

Mortisers¶

Format	Years	Comments
		Model 2A Chain
	1948—53	This model did not have serial numbers.
		Model 15 Chain
2nnn	1953—55	"nnn" is a number.
N-nnnn	1955—64	"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1955. "nnnn" is a number.
		Model 30 Hydraulic Chain
	1955	This model did not have serial numbers.
		Model 40 Hydraulic Chain
	1956—60	This model did not have serial numbers.
		Model 41 Hydraulic Chain
	1960—??	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—55	"nnn" is a number. Beginning year (1948) is estimated.
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.
N40-nnnn	1968—77	"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1968. "nnnn" is a number.
NN40-nnnn	1978—??	"NN" is the last two digits of the year, beginning in 1978. "nnnn" is a number.

Planers¶

Format	Years	Comments
		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—50	This model did not have serial numbers until June 1950.
nnnn	1950—??	"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)
nnnn	19??—??	"nnnn" is a number, beginning with 7001.
		Model 100 (12 inch)
nnnn	1955—55	"nnnn" is a number, beginning with 6200.
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.
N00-nnnn	1968—77	"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1968. "nnnn" is a number.
NN00-nnnn	1978—??	"NN" is the last two digits of the year, beginning in 1978. "nnnn" is a number.
		Model 160 (16 inch)
N-nnnn	1959—67	"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1959. "nnnn" is a number.
N60-nnnn	1968—77	"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1968. "nnnn" is a number.
NN60-nnnn	1978—??	"NN" is the last two digits of the year, beginning in 1978. "nnnn" is a number.
		Model 180 (18 inch)
N-nnn	1961—68	"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1961. "nnn" is a number.
N80-nnnn	1968—77	"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1968. "nnnn" is a number.
NN80-nnnn	1978—??	"NN" is the last two digits of the year, beginning in 1978. "nnnn" is a number.
		Model 220 (20 inch)
nnnn	1952—55	"nnnn" is a number, beginning with number 5100.
		Model 221 (20 inch)
N-nnnn	1955—64	"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1955. "nnnn" is a number, beginning with 5525.
6N-nnnn	1965—67	"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1965. "nnnn" is a number.
N22-nnnn	1968—77	"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1968. "nnnn" is a number.
NN22-nnnn	1978—??	"NN" is the last two digits of the year, beginning in 1978. "nnnn" is a number.
		Model 224 (24 inch)
nnnn	1952—55	"nnnn" is a number, beginning with number 5100.
nnnn	1955—57	"nnnn" is a number, beginning with number 8001.
		Model 225 (24 inch)
nnnn	1957—60	"nnnn" is a number, beginning with number 8360.
N-nnnn	1960—67	"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1965. "nnnn" is a number.
N25-nnnn	1968—77	"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1968. "nnnn" is a number.
NN25-nnnn	1978—??	"NN" is the last two digits of the year, beginning in 1978. "nnnn" is a number.

Sanders¶

Format	Years	Comments
		Model 30
N-nnnn	1960—68	"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1960. "nnnn" is a number.
N30-nnnn	1968—77	"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1968. "nnnn" is a number.
		Model 30A
N30Annnn	1969—77	"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1969. "nnn" is a number.
NN30-nnnn	1978—??	"NN" is the last two digits of the year, beginning in 1978. "nnnn" is a number.
		Model 30B
N30-nnnn	1968—77	"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1968. "nnnn" is a number.
NN30-nnnn	1978—??	"NN" is the last two digits of the year, beginning in 1978. "nnnn" is a number.
		Model 33
N-nnnn	1960—68	"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1960. "nnnn" is a number.
N33-nnnn	1968—77	"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1968. "nnnn" is a number.
		Model 33B
N33-nnnn	1968—77	"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1968. "nnnn" is a number.
NN33-nnnn	1978—??	"NN" is the last two digits of the year, beginning in 1978. "nnnn" is a number.
		Model 35
N-nnnn	1960—68	"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1960. "nnnn" is a number.
N35-nnnn	1968—77	"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1968. "nnnn" is a number.
		Model 35B
N35-nnnn	1968—77	"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1968. "nnnn" is a number.
NN35-nnnn	1978—??	"NN" is the last two digits of the year, beginning in 1978. "nnnn" is a number.

Scroll Saws¶

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

Spindle Shaper¶

Format	Years	Comments
		Model 25
N-nnnn	1961—65	"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1955. "nnnn" is a number.
		Model 26
6N-nnnn	1965—68	"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1965. "nnnn" is a number.
N26-nnnn	1968—77	"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1968. "nnnn" is a number.
NN26-nnnn	1978—??	"NN" is the last two digits of the year, beginning in 1978. "nnnn" is a number.

Tilting Arbor Saw (Tablesaw)¶

Format	Years	Comments
		Model 62
N-nnn	1964—68	"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1964. "nnn" is a number.
N62-nnnn	1968—77	"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1968. "nnnn" is a number.
NN62-nnnn	1978—??	"NN" is the last two digits of the year, beginning in 1978. "nnnn" is a number.
		Model 65
N-nnn	1955—65	"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1955. "nnn" is a number.
NN-nnn	1965—??	"NN" is the last two digits of the year, beginning in 1965. "nnn" is a number.
		Model 66
66-nnn	1965—68	"nnn" is a number.
N66-nnnn	1968—77	"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1968. "nnnn" is a number.
NN66-nnnn	1978—??	"NN" is the last two digits of the year, beginning in 1978. "nnnn" is a number.
		Model 68
N68-nnnn	1972—78	"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1972. "nnnn" is a number.
NN68-nnnn	1978—??	"NN" is the last two digits of the year, beginning in 1978. "nnnn" is a number.
		Model 70
1nnn	1954—55	"nnn" is a number.
N-nnnn	1955—60	"nnnn" is a number.
		Model 71
N-nnn	1960—??	"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1960. "nnn" is a number, beginning with "600" in 1960.
		Model 72
N-nnn	1958—67	"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1958. "nnn" is a number.
N72-nnn	1968—77	"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1968. "nnn" is a number.
NN72-nnn	1978—??	"NN" is the last two digits of the year, beginning in 1978. "nnn" is a number.

Tenoners, Single-End¶

Format	Years	Comments
		Model 2
	1948—53	This model did not have serial numbers.
		Model 2A
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.
N28-nnnn	1968—77	"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1968. "nnnn" is a number.
NN32-nnnn	1978—??	"NN" is the last two digits of the year, beginning in 1978. "nnnn" is a number.