around 20 years ago I picked up two Mori Seiki SL-1 lathes which were also tagged BB series--this
designation quickly unified into SL -slant bed series
production began in mid 1970's as NC control
the BB label remained a mystery until recently--shipyard drawings of battleship class Yamato reveal
BB designation similar to call letters for american battleships--ie--BB61--USS Iowa
so, if this theory is correct, designation BB is a tribute to Yamato, Musashi, Shinano warships--the
most formidable blue water combatants of WW II
of course this may be fuzzy thinking and someone with firm knowledge will set the record straight
designation quickly unified into SL -slant bed series
production began in mid 1970's as NC control
the BB label remained a mystery until recently--shipyard drawings of battleship class Yamato reveal
BB designation similar to call letters for american battleships--ie--BB61--USS Iowa
so, if this theory is correct, designation BB is a tribute to Yamato, Musashi, Shinano warships--the
most formidable blue water combatants of WW II
of course this may be fuzzy thinking and someone with firm knowledge will set the record straight