Page History: Powermatic Serial Numbers
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Page Revision: 2009/02/11 14:32
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. |