Hmmmm, A missing link in a "B" casting

wiredone · Post by **wiredone** » Mon Aug 13, 2012 8:58 pm

This is a picture ofa headstock casting of my most recent acquisition. It is a B casting , but check the cut-out behind the speedcontrol. SER # 186343, late Sept 84 build date.
My other gray unit is from summer 83, ser # 157707 and it has the same "Texas" shaped cut out as my 56 Greenie case that is pictured.
So does that mean that we really have A B C and D cases?

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Mon Aug 13, 2012 9:18 pm

wiredone wrote:This is a picture ofa headstock casting of my most recent acquisition. It is a B casting , but check the cut-out behind the speedcontrol. SER # 186343, late Sept 84 build date.
My other gray unit is from summer 83, ser # 157707 and it has the same "Texas" shaped cut out as my 56 Greenie case that is pictured.
So does that mean that we really have A B C and D cases?

I'm guessing somebody left out a core piece when it was cast.

wiredone · Post by **wiredone** » Mon Aug 13, 2012 10:20 pm

Any one else seen this?

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Mon Aug 13, 2012 10:25 pm

wiredone wrote:Any one else seen this?

Hang onto that un. It may be the only wun of its kind!:D

nuhobby · Post by **nuhobby** » Tue Aug 14, 2012 1:37 am

wiredone wrote:Any one else seen this?

I did see this small rectangular opening on an 80s unit that I repaired and sold once. It caused an alteration on how to put together Bill Mayo's fix on the speed-control (bolt and nut had to be installed after mounting the speed control in the headstock).

wiredone · Post by **wiredone** » Tue Aug 14, 2012 9:07 pm

Yeah, I can see where that would be an interference situation.
Love to know what the real story is though. Maybe a batch of castings that as RED suggested, didn't get the proper blanks installed during the process?

billmayo · Post by **billmayo** » Tue Aug 14, 2012 9:53 pm

wiredone wrote:This is a picture ofa headstock casting of my most recent acquisition. It is a B casting , but check the cut-out behind the speedcontrol. SER # 186343, late Sept 84 build date.
My other gray unit is from summer 83, ser # 157707 and it has the same "Texas" shaped cut out as my 56 Greenie case that is pictured.
So does that mean that we really have A B C and D cases?

I have seen many later model (80s) headstocks like your odd one. It is still a "B" headstock with a little more strength in the speed control assembly area. Shopsmith made many upgrades like this over the years with the same part number.

In fact, in my instructions for the quadrant bolt kit, there is a picture of this headstock casing and where you have to file the casing to get the speed control assembly installed that has the bolt vs the roll pin. All I need is your home address to send anyone the quadrant bolt kit, no charge.

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Tue Aug 14, 2012 11:43 pm

AAAAANNNNNDDDDD http://www.ebay.com/itm/Nice-Clean-Used-Shopsmith-Mark-V-Headstock-Casting-with-Headstock-Lock-/110934872710?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19d43bd286

wiredone · Post by **wiredone** » Wed Aug 15, 2012 1:27 am

interestingly Red, that one on Ebay is even a little more different! It is cut out behind the tension spring, mine is not.
I knew there would be answers!!