Page History: Walker-Turner Serial Numbers
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Page Revision: 2009/01/17 21:54
Introduction
The information below is taken from a
Walker-Turner service bulletin that dates from about 1961.
With respect to serial numbers we can divide Walker-Turner's existence into five epochs:
- 0. No serial numbers. Early machines did not have any serial numbers.
- 1. The first serial number system began in 1939. These followed no logical pattern and were more akin to a model number than a unit-specific designation. See the machine-specific section below for details.
- 2. Starting in April of 1950 a new system was introduced. These new serials are formatted YYMSQD where YY is the year of manufacture, M is the type of machine, S is the specific model of machine, Q is the quarter of the year of manufacture, and D notes deviation from the standard model. For example, 52DA2A is a standard (52DA2A) single-spindle (52DA2A) 15" drill press (52DA2A) that was built in the 2nd quarter (52DA2A) of 1952 (52DA2A). Below is a list of the machine type code letters and what they stand for.
| A | Tilting Arbor & Table Saw | | G | Grinder |
| B | Band Saw | | J | Jig Saw |
| C | Sander | | L | Lathes |
| D | 15” Drill Press | | P | Planer (Jointer) |
| E | 20” Drill Press | | R | Radial Saw & Drill |
| | | S | Spindle Shaper |
- 3. The next serial number system was introduced in April 1953 and used until September 1956. Each machine was numbered 0000001, 0000002, etc. The type and model cannot be identified by the number alone. Machine tags used during this time included fields for both Model No. and Serial No. Almost all of the models sold during this time were introduced in 1953.
- 4. The last serial number system began in October of 1956. The machine type is designated by a two-digit prefix, e.g., No. 11-0001 was the first 20-inch drill press as of October 1956.
Detailed Information by Machine Type
The following subsections provide details of serial numbers for each type of machine made by Walker-Turner.
15-inch Drill Press
Type 1:
900 Series, 1940 through 1947:
| 9D140 | 1-1140 |
| 9D1040 | 1-944 |
| 9D943 | 1-147 |
Type 2:
For units with the Type 2 serial numbering system, the second letter indicates only the number of spindles or the type of spindle in the original unit. All units in this system were of the “900” series until the “1200” and “1300” series were introduced in the second quarter of 1952. Thus the first “1200” series Drill Press was serial number 52DA2A which indicates “52” as 1952, “DA” 15” Drill Press, “2” second quarter and “A” standard model.
The “1300” 6” travel 15” Drill Presses are identified through the use of an “O” in place of the “D” in these serial numbers.
20-inch Drill Press
Type 1:
1100 Series, 1941 through 1952:
| D11241 | 2-1143 |
| D11242 | 2-644 |
| D11542 | 27-1144 (PF) |
| D11642 (PF) | 27-546 (PF) |
| D1143 | 2-546 |
Type 2:
For units with a Type 2 serial number, the second letter indicates only the number of spindles in the original unit. These 20” Drill Presses began with serial number 52EA2A which indicates “52” as 1952 year of manufacture “EA” 20” Drill Press, etc. All Serial numbers prior to 52EA2A were Type 1.
Bandsaws¶
Type 1:
BN730, dates unknown: 7-BS6390
BW740, 1950: 29-449
BN905 14” Wood, 1939 to 1950:
MBN935 14” Metal, 1939 to 1950:
| 9BS6390 | 20-842 |
| MBS6390 | 20-1049 |
| MBS842 |
MBN1105 16” Metal, 1939 to 1948 (Discontinued 1948):
| 11056390 | 1105842 |
| 11051039 | 21-842 |
| 1105442 | 1105-448 |
BN1135 16” Wood, 1939 to 1948 (Discontinued 1948):
| 11351039 | 22-639 |
| 11356390 | 1135-448 |
MCB1150 16” Wood, 1950: 32-1049 & 50BD2A
MCB1151 16” Wood, 1950: 50BE2A
MCB1160 16” Metal, 1950: 50BF2A
Type 2:
For units with Type 2 serial numbers, the second letter indicates specific models of Bandsaws as follows:
| “A” indicates BW740 | | “D” indicates MCB1150 |
| “B” indicates BN905 | | “E” indicates MCB1151 |
| “C” indicates BN905 | | “F” indicates MCB1160 |
Thus serial number 50BB2A would indicate that it was a model MBN935. Serial number 50BF2A indicates model MCB1160, etc.
Tablesaws
Radial Drills
Jig Saws (Scroll Saws)
Lathes
Sanders¶
Jointers
Shapers
Radial arm saws
Cut-off Machines