Old powermatic jointer

[Burt Pierce]

I just bought an old Powermatic jointer and I am trying to find out some of its history. The tag on the machine lists the place of manufacture as McMinville, Tenn. It is a Powermatic 60. The serial number is 8-4021. Can anybody fill me in as to how old this thing might be? It's one heavy piece of equipment.

[david brum]

Here's a photo index which shows several model 60s. It looks like the manufacturing date ranges from mid 50s thru mid 70s. Nice machine.
http://vintagemachinery.org/mfgindex/detail.aspx?id=655&tab=4

[George wilmore]

If it is like the one in the photo you have got a great jointer. I have used one in my classroom for 37 years with no problems. Mine is three phase.

[Matt Meiser]

Based on this contradictory page (http://wiki.vintagemachinery.org/PowermaticSerialNumbers.ashx) it might be a 58 or 68. 2 places on that page indicate it would be a 58 and 3 indicate it is a 68.

That said, knowing the year doesn't really do much for you besides satisfying your curiosity as these didn't change much over the years. I had a ~61 model 50 which is the 6" version--great machine. I think the individual bed castings weighed as much as a modern jointer.

New parts can be a little difficult to obtain for the older PM machines. Supposedly Redmond Machinery has a large stock of them but I could never get a response from them on some table locks I was looking for. Same with some vintage PM sander parts despite repeated emails and phone calls. I ended up finding some knobs at McMaster Carr, repairing some sander parts, and acquiring others from the classifieds at the Vintage Machinery site.