Page History: Powermatic Serial Numbers
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Page Revision: 2009/02/12 10:05
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—53 | Early machines did not have serial numbers. |
mnnn | 1953—55 | "m" is a digit that varied according to machine type. "nnn" is the number of the machine within this series. |
N-nnnn | 1955—64 | "N" is the unit digit of the year, beginning in 1955. "nnnn" is the number of the machine for that year. |
6N-nnnn | 1965—68 | "N" is the unit digit of the year, beginning in 1965. "nnnn" is the number of the machine for that year. |
NMM-nnnn | 1968—77 | "N" is the unit digit of the year, beginning in 1968. |
NNMM-nnnn | 1968—?? | "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.
Wood-cutting Band Saws¶
Format | Years | Comments |
| | Model 80 |
N-nnnn | 1955—?? | "N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1955. "nnnn" is the number of the machine for that year. |
| | Model 81 |
N-nnnn | 1960—68 | "N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1960. "nnnn" is the number of the machine for that year. |
N81-nnnn | 1968—77 | "N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1968. "nnnn" is the number of the machine for that year. |
NN81-nnnn | 1978—?? | "NN" is the last two digits of the year, beginning in 1978. "nnnn" is the number of the machine for that year. |
| | Model 140 |
N-nnnn | 1955—?? | "N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1955. "nnnn" is the number of the machine for that year. |
| | Model 141 |
N-nnnn | 1961—68 | "N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1955. "nnnn" is the number of the machine for that year. |
N41-nnnn | 1968—77 | "N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1968. "nnnn" is the number of the machine for that year. |
NN41-nnnn | 1978—?? | "NN" is the last two digits of the year, beginning in 1978. "nnnn" is the number of the machine for that year. |
Metal-cutting Band Saws¶
Format | Years | Comments |
| | Model 2 |
N-nnnn | 1965—68 | "N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1965. "nnnn" is the number of the machine for that year. |
N02-nnnn | 1968—?? | "N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1968. "nnnn" is the number of the machine for that year. |
| | Model 5 |
N-nnnn | 1964—68 | "N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1964. "nnnn" is the number of the machine for that year. |
N05-nnnn | 1968—?? | "N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1968. "nnnn" is the number of the machine for that year. |
| | Model 6 |
N06-nnnn | 1970—?? | "N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1970. "nnnn" is the number of the machine for that year. |
| | Model 8 |
N-nnnn | 1964—68 | "N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1964. "nnnn" is the number of the machine for that year. |
N08-nnnn | 1968—?? | "N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1970. "nnnn" is the number of the machine for that year. |
| | 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 the number of the machine for that year. |
| | Model 87 |
N-nnnn | 1960—68 | "N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1960. "nnnn" is the number of the machine for that year. |
N87-nnnn | 1968—77 | "N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1968. "nnnn" is the number of the machine for that year. |
NN87-nnnn | 1978—?? | "NN" is the last two digits of the year, beginning in 1978. "nnnn" is the number of the machine for that year. |
| | Model 88 |
N88-nnnn | 1974—78 | "N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1974. "nnnn" is the number of the machine for that year. |
NN88-nnnn | 1978—?? | "NN" is the last two digits of the year, beginning in 1978. "nnnn" is the number of the machine for that year. |
| | Model 89 |
N89-nnnn | 1969—?? | "N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1969. "nnnn" is the number of the machine for that year. |
Drill Presses
Format | Years | Comments |
| | Model 1100 |
N-nnnn | 1965—?? | "nnnn" is the number of the machine in the series. |
| | Model 1150 |
N-0nnn | 1964—68 | "nnnn" is the number of the machine in the series. |
N15X-nnnn | 1968—76 | "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—78 | "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—78 | "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—64 | "nnnn" is the number of the machine in the series. |
NN-nnnn | 1965—68 | "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—78 | "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—78 | "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. |
Jointers
Format | Years | Comments |
| | Model 50 (6 inch) |
11nnn | 1955—60 | "nnn" is the number of the machine in the series. |
N-nnnn | 1960—65 | "N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1960. "nnn" is the number of the machine for that year. |
6N-nnnn | 1965—68 | "N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1965. "nnnn" is the number of the machine for that year. |
N50-nnnn | 1968—77 | "N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1968. "nnnn" is the number of the machine for that year. |
NN50-nnnn | 1978—?? | "NN" is the last two digits of the year, beginning in 1978. "nnnn" is the number of the machine for that year. |
| | Model 60 (8 inch) |
3nnn | 1957—60 | "nnnn" is the number of the machine within this version. |
N-nnnn | 1960—68 | "N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1960. "nnnn" is the number of the machine within this version. |
N61-nnnn | 1968—77 | "N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1968. "nnnn" is the number of the machine for that year. |
NN61-nnnn | 1978—?? | "NN" is the first two digits of the year, beginning in 1978. "nnnn" is the number of the machine for that year. |
Wood Lathes
Format | Years | Comments |
| | Model 45 |
N-1nnn | 1960—68 | "N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1960. "nnn" is the number of the machine for that year. |
N45-nnnn | 1968—77 | "N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1968. "nnnn" is the number of the machine for that year. |
NN45-nnnn | 1978—?? | "NN" is the last two digits of the year, beginning in 1978. "nnnn" is the number of the machine for that year. |
| | Model 90 |
0-nnnn | 1955—68 | "nnnn" is the number of the machine within this version. |
N90-nnnn | 1968—77 | "N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1968. "nnnn" is the number of the machine for that year. |
NN90-nnnn | 1978—?? | "NN" is the first two digits of the year, beginning in 1978. "nnnn" is the number of the machine for that year. |
Mortisers
Format | Years | Comments |
| | Model 2A Chain |
| 1948—53 | This model did not have serial numbers. |
| | Model 15 Chain |
2nnn | 1953—55 | "nnn" is the number of the machine within this version. |
N-nnnn | 1955—64 | "N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1955. "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—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 the number of the machine within this version. Beginning year (1948) is estimated. |
N-nnnn | 1955—64 | "N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1955. "nnnn" is the number of the machine for that year. |
6N-nnnn | 1965—68 | "N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1965. "nnnn" is the number of the machine for that year. |
N40-nnnn | 1968—77 | "N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1968. "nnnn" is the number of the machine for that year. |
NN40-nnnn | 1978—?? | "NN" is the last two digits of the year, beginning in 1978. "nnnn" is the number of the machine for that year. |
Planers
Format | Years | Comments |
| | Model 12 (12 inch) |
| 1948—50 | This model did not have serial numbers until June 1950. |
nnnn | 1950—?? | "nnnn" is the number of the machine in the series. |
| | 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 the number of the machine in the series, beginning with 7001. |
| | Model 100 (12 inch) |
nnnn | 1955—55 | "nnnn" is the number of the machine in the series, beginning with 6200. |
N-nnnn | 1955—64 | "N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1955. "nnnn" is the number of the machine for that year. |
6N-nnnn | 1965—68 | "N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1965. "nnnn" is the number of the machine for that year. |
N00-nnnn | 1968—77 | "N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1968. "nnnn" is the number of the machine for that year. |
NN00-nnnn | 1978—?? | "NN" is the last two digits of the year, beginning in 1978. "nnnn" is the number of the machine for that year. |
| | Model 160 (16 inch) |
N-nnnn | 1960—68 | "N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1960. "nnnn" is the number of the machine for that year. |
N60-nnnn | 1968—77 | "N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1968. "nnnn" is the number of the machine for that year. |
NN60-nnnn | 1978—?? | "NN" is the last two digits of the year, beginning in 1978. "nnnn" is the number of the machine for that year. |
| | Model 180 (18 inch) |
N-nnn | 1961—68 | "N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1961. "nnn" is the number of the machine for that year. |
N80-nnnn | 1968—77 | "N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1968. "nnnn" is the number of the machine for that year. |
NN80-nnnn | 1978—?? | "NN" is the last two digits of the year, beginning in 1978. "nnnn" is the number of the machine for that year. |
Sanders¶
Format | Years | Comments |
| | Model 30 |
N-nnnn | 1960—68 | "N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1960. "nnnn" is the number of the machine for that year. |
N30-nnnn | 1968—77 | "N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1968. "nnnn" is the number of the machine for that year. |
| | Model 30A |
N30Annnn | 1969—77 | "N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1969. "nnn" is the number of the machine for that year. |
NN30-nnnn | 1978—?? | "NN" is the last two digits of the year, beginning in 1978. "nnnn" is the number of the machine for that year. |
| | Model 30B |
N30-nnnn | 1968—77 | "N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1968. "nnnn" is the number of the machine for that year. |
NN30-nnnn | 1978—?? | "NN" is the last two digits of the year, beginning in 1978. "nnnn" is the number of the machine for that year. |
| | Model 33 |
N-nnnn | 1960—68 | "N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1960. "nnnn" is the number of the machine for that year. |
N33-nnnn | 1968—77 | "N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1968. "nnnn" is the number of the machine for that year. |
| | Model 33B |
N33-nnnn | 1968—77 | "N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1968. "nnnn" is the number of the machine for that year. |
NN33-nnnn | 1978—?? | "NN" is the last two digits of the year, beginning in 1978. "nnnn" is the number of the machine for that year. |
| | Model 35 |
N-nnnn | 1960—68 | "N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1960. "nnnn" is the number of the machine for that year. |
N35-nnnn | 1968—77 | "N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1968. "nnnn" is the number of the machine for that year. |
| | Model 35B |
N35-nnnn | 1968—77 | "N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1968. "nnnn" is the number of the machine for that year. |
NN35-nnnn | 1978—?? | "NN" is the last two digits of the year, beginning in 1978. "nnnn" is the number of the machine for that year. |
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 the number of the machine for that year. |
N95-nnnn | 1968—77 | "N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1968. "nnnn" is the number of the machine for that year. |
NN95-nnnn | 1978—?? | "NN" is the last two digits of the year, beginning in 1978. "nnnn" is the number of the machine for that year. |
Spindle Shaper
Format | Years | Comments |
| | Model 25 |
N-nnnn | 1961—65 | "N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1955. "nnnn" is the number of the machine for that year. |
| | Model 26 |
6N-nnnn | 1965—68 | "N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1965. "nnnn" is the number of the machine for that year. |
N26-nnnn | 1968—77 | "N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1968. "nnnn" is the number of the machine for that year. |
NN26-nnnn | 1978—?? | "NN" is the last two digits of the year, beginning in 1978. "nnnn" is the number of the machine for that year. |
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 the number of the machine for that year. |
N62-nnnn | 1968—77 | "N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1968. "nnnn" is the number of the machine for that year. |
NN62-nnnn | 1978—?? | "NN" is the last two digits of the year, beginning in 1978. "nnnn" is the number of the machine for that year. |
| | Model 65 |
N-nnn | 1955—65 | "N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1955. "nnn" is the number of the machine for that year. |
NN-nnn | 1965—?? | "NN" is the last two digits of the year, beginning in 1965. "nnn" is the number of the machine for that year. |
| | Model 66 |
66-nnn | 1965—68 | "nnn" is the number of the machine for the series. |
N66-nnnn | 1968—77 | "N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1968. "nnnn" is the number of the machine for that year. |
NN66-nnnn | 1978—?? | "NN" is the last two digits of the year, beginning in 1978. "nnnn" is the number of the machine for that year. |
| | Model 68 |
N68-nnnn | 1972—78 | "N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1972. "nnnn" is the number of the machine for that year. |
NN68-nnnn | 1978—?? | "NN" is the last two digits of the year, beginning in 1978. "nnnn" is the number of the machine for that year. |
| | Model 70 |
1nnn | 1954—55 | "nnn" is the number of the machine for the series. |
N-nnnn | 1955—60 | "nnnn" is the number of the machine in the series. |
| | Model 71 |
N-nnn | 1960—?? | "N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1960. "nnn" is the number of the machine in the series (beginning with "600" in 1960). |
| | Model 72 |
N-nnn | 1958—67 | "N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1958. "nnn" is the number of the machine in the series. |
N72-nnn | 1968—77 | "N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1968. "nnn" is the number of the machine in the series. |
NN72-nnn | 1978—?? | "NN" is the last two digits of the year, beginning in 1978. "nnn" is the number of the machine in the series. |
Single-End Tenoners
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 the number of the machine for that year. |
6N-nnnn | 1965—68 | "N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1965. "nnnn" is the number of the machine for that year. |
N28-nnnn | 1968—77 | "N" is the units digit of the year, beginning in 1968. "nnnn" is the number of the machine for that year. |
NN32-nnnn | 1978—?? | "NN" is the last two digits of the year, beginning in 1978. "nnnn" is the number of the machine for that year. |