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.pdfPowermatic 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 | 1978—?? | "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 | According to Powermatic this model did not have serial numbers, but we have seen at least one example that did (S/N 2050). |
| | | 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. |