First made available during 1942 the Underdrive Model on its sheet-metal stand (a design previously adopted by many other makers) had a much more up-to-date appearance than the company's earlier products. The lathe was available in the usual South Bend combinations of Model A, B and C together with versions equipped for "toolroom" use and one with production equipment mounted: a 6-position self-indexing capstan head, a screw-or lever-feed cut-off slide, a lever-operated collet closer and coolant.
12 spindle speeds were provided in two ranges of high and low - the difference being achieved by a double-step pulley on the motor and countershaft: in backgear the low range gave 41, 72, 127 rpm and 212, 370 and 658 rpm in direct dive; in high-range backgear the speeds were became 79, 138, and 246 rpm and in high range direct drive 408, 716 and 1270 rpm. The final drive was by flat belt, the one provided being leather and laced together
Initially only one between-centres capacity of 22 inches between centres was available but with a year alternative specifications of 16 inches and 28 inches were being offered. Built into the tailstock-end bed foot was a new feature, and adjuster by which means the lathe could be levelled correctly. There were two screws, one at the front and one at the back. By tightening one and loosening the other (both should be tight when the adjustment is complete) the bed could be "twisted" into alignment.