Model 505 basics 101
edited 9-23-2024
I do not know exactly when the Mark V 505 came out. I had believed it came out at the same time as the 510 but cannot confirm that. The oldest catalog I have after the Mark V 510 came out is a Spring 1986 catalog without any mention of a 505. The first reference of any kind I can find for it is in the Winter 1987 catalog. On page 3 there is an upgrade listed to take your Mark V with the original Table System (500) to the Level 2 Table System Retro-fit Kit. That makes it a 510 without actually calling it that. On the same page is a Level 1 Table System Retro-fit Kit that doesn't include, and I quote, "floating extension tables, extension tubes, telescoping legs and adjustable fittings" essentially a Mark V 505. That Winter 1987 catalog, like others, does not list a complete Mark V of any model for sale. The next actual catalog I have is the Spring/Summer 1990 and the 505 is not listed in it. I didn't find the Level 1 upgrade either. A 1994 catalog on page 3 has and I quote "The Ultimate Woodworking System - Shopsmith MARK V" and "2 MODELS" the 510 & 500. The HOLIDAY 2000 catalog has the exploded views and parts lists but no mention of the 505 on common parts between it and the 510. It's also another catalog that does not list a complete Mark V of any model for sale. The last catalog I looked for the 505 in this morning is the March 2001 50th Anniversary Catalog. It has the drawings and parts list along with having the upgrade from 500 to 510 or 520 but no mention of the 505. Were they selling the 505 and simply not advertising it in catalogs? The lists of serial number by month only has the Mark V 510 besides the original 500 which the list ends in December 1987 when they changed to date codes. There are (on the Headstock) Mark V 505 labels that go into 2008 but when did they actually begin is a mystery.
For some unknown reason it has been left out of the Shopsmith History. It is the same as the 510 except it does not have the 2 Floating Tables, Connector Tubes and the Support Legs. The 505 was discontinued prior to the 510 being discontinued. The stick-on label does, in some cases, call it a MARK V MODEL 505 as it came from the factory. Not all labels call the actual Mark V model by name from the factory. An example is below from one named STATIC DISPLAY UNIT.
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Other names I have seen include PRO MARK V UNIT or MK V BASE UNIT, but one can only guess what all the other names actually mean. Many simply say MARK V. The label below even calls it 50TH ANNVERSARY MK V.
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Once the Table System is changed or upgraded it could commonly be considered that Model, be it 500, 505, 510 or 520.
As for 50th Anniversary Edition Mark V's the cover plate was used for several years. Introduced with the 50th Anniversary catalog from March 2001. I believe Shopsmith ordered a bunch and used them until they ran out. Remember the Headstock was the same no matter which Model was ordered so all Models being made had the 50th Anniversary cover plate. It was not exclusive to any one Model.
