Page History: Powermatic Serial Numbers

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

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 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¶

Format	Years	Comments
		Model 50 (6 inch)
11nnn	1955 to 1960	"nnn" is the number of the machine in the series.
N-nnnn	1960 to 1965	The "N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1960. The "nnn" 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.
N50-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.
NN50-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 60 (8 inch)
3nnn	1957 to 1960	The "nnnn" is the number of the machine within this version.
N-nnnn	1960 to 1968	The "N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1960. The "nnnn" is the number of the machine within this version.
N61-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.
NN61-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.

Scroll Saws¶

Format	Years	Comments
		Model 95
	1948 to 1953	This model did not have serial numbers.
N-nnn	1961 to 1968	The "N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1961. The "nnnn" is the number of the machine for that year.
N95-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.
NN95-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.

Spindle Shaper¶

Format	Years	Comments
		Model 25
N-nnnn	1961 to 1965	The "N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1955. The "nnnn" is the number of the machine for that year.
		Model 26
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.
N26-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.
NN26-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.

Sanders¶

Format	Years	Comments
		Model 30
N-nnnn	1960 to 1968	The "N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1960. The "nnnn" is the number of the machine for that year.
N30-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.
		Model 30A
N30Annnn	1969 to 1977	The "N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1969. The "nnn" is the number of the machine for that year.
NN30-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 30B
N30-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.
NN30-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 33
N-nnnn	1960 to 1968	The "N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1960. The "nnnn" is the number of the machine for that year.
N33-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.
		Model 33B
N33-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.
NN33-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 35
N-nnnn	1960 to 1968	The "N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1960. The "nnnn" is the number of the machine for that year.
N35-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.
		Model 35B
N35-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.
NN35-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.

Drill Presses¶

Format	Years	Comments
		Model 1100
N-nnnn	1965 to ????	"nnnn" is the number of the machine in the series.
		Model 1150
N-0nnn	1964 to 1968	"nnnn" is the number of the machine in the series.
N15X-nnnn	1968 to 1976	"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1968. "X" is the letter V or S. "nnnn" is the number of the machine for that year.
		Model 1150A
N15X-nnnn	1976 to 1978	"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1976. "X" is the letter V or S. "nnnn" is the number of the machine for that year.
NN15X-nnnn	1978 to 1978	"NN" is the last two digits of the year, beginning in 1978. "X" is the letter V or S. "nnnn" is the number of the machine for that year.
		Model 1200
N-1nnn	1955 to 1964	"nnnn" is the number of the machine in the series.
NN-nnnn	1965 to 1968	"NN" is the last two digits of the year, beginning in 1965. "nnnn" is the number of the machine for that year.
N20X-nnnn	1976 to 1978	"N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1976. "X" is the letter V or S. "nnnn" is the number of the machine for that year.
NN20X-nnnn	1978 to 1978	"NN" is the last two digits of the year, beginning in 1978. "X" is the letter V or S. "nnnn" is the number of the machine for that year.

Tilting Arbor Saw¶

Format	Years	Comments
		Model X
	1948 to 1953	This model did not have serial numbers.
Xnnnn	1953 to 1955	"nnnn" is the number of the machine in the series.
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.
NXX-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.
NNXX-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-cutting Band Saws¶

Format	Years	Comments
		Model X
	1948 to 1953	This model did not have serial numbers.
Xnnnn	1953 to 1955	"nnnn" is the number of the machine in the series.
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.
NXX-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.
NNXX-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.

Metal-cutting Band Saws¶

Format	Years	Comments
		Model X
	1948 to 1953	This model did not have serial numbers.
Xnnnn	1953 to 1955	"nnnn" is the number of the machine in the series.
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.
NXX-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.
NNXX-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.

Planers¶

Format	Years	Comments
		Model X
	1948 to 1953	This model did not have serial numbers.
Xnnnn	1953 to 1955	"nnnn" is the number of the machine in the series.
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.
NXX-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.
NNXX-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.