Age and information about my Shopsmiths

Sonny · Post by **Sonny** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 9:03 pm

I inherited my Dad's Shopsmith which he bought in the 1950's from Mongomery Ward for $325.00 (with a free jointer). On the plate at the left end of the headstock is this information: Serial number 325998, patent number 2623269, 4/4 Hp, 85 amp ( I looked closely to make sure that it did not say 8.5 Amps.) It also reads that this is a Mark 5 (not V).

Ft. Wayne Ind-Menlo Park Cal, USA.

The book Power Tool Woodworking for Everyone is Copyrighted 1955 by Magna Publications, a division of Magna Power Tool Corporation, Menlo Park, California. (The price sticker on is is $4.95!)

When I checked the serial number site, I did not find this number listed as to the date on it. I think it was bought in 1954 or 1955, because I was a teenager then and remember working with it.

Does anyone have any suggestions about the year of it?

Also, last week, I bought a Mark V Anniversary Model 555861 with Serial Number 04-03-02 that was bought April 13, 2002 with a 11"bandsaw that was bought April 13, 2002. It has the 11" bandsaw and fence system for the bandsaw.

The original owner paid $3142.82 for it. According the person from whom I bought it, he sawed one board with it, got sick shortly afterward and died.''

On the sticker on this one is this is (516626 rev c), What does this mean?

I paid $1200.00 for it: good deal or not?

Thanks, Sonny

On the older one the HP should read 3/4 instead of 4/4.

termite06 · Post by **termite06** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 9:41 pm

he bought in the 1950's from Mongomery Ward for $325.00 (with a free jointer).

Man, Nov 06 I paid $6000 for a 520 (with free bandsaw) and Dust collector.
Inflation!!:rolleyes:

516626 = part# for the label
rev c = third version of this label

Sonny · Post by **Sonny** » Sat Mar 22, 2008 8:42 am

Termite:

Does the Shopsmith dust collector work well with the table saw and band saw? I saw it demonstrated and was impressed with how quiet it was.

I need to get some type of collector to replace the old shop vac.

You are right about the inflation factor!!!

Thanks for the reply.

Sonny

Len · Post by **Len** » Sat Mar 22, 2008 9:28 am

sonny wrote:I inherited my Dad's Shopsmith which he bought in the 1950's from Mongomery Ward for $325.00 (with a free jointer). On the plate at the left end of the headstock is this information: Serial number 325998, patent number 2623269, 4/4 Hp, 85 amp ( I looked closely to make sure that it did not say 8.5 Amps.) It also reads that this is a Mark 5 (not V).

Ft. Wayne Ind-Menlo Park Cal, USA.

The book Power Tool Woodworking for Everyone is Copyrighted 1955 by Magna Publications, a division of Magna Power Tool Corporation, Menlo Park, California. (The price sticker on is is $4.95!)

When I checked the serial number site, I did not find this number listed as to the date on it. I think it was bought in 1954 or 1955, because I was a teenager then and remember working with it.

Does anyone have any suggestions about the year of it?

Also, last week, I bought a Mark V Anniversary Model 555861 with Serial Number 04-03-02 that was bought April 13, 2002 with a 11"bandsaw that was bought April 13, 2002. It has the 11" bandsaw and fence system for the bandsaw.

The original owner paid $3142.82 for it. According the person from whom I bought it, he sawed one board with it, got sick shortly afterward and died.''

On the sticker on this one is this is (516626 rev c), What does this mean?

I paid $1200.00 for it: good deal or not?

Thanks, Sonny

On the older one the HP should read 3/4 instead of 4/4.

Well, Sonny, to answer your question, yes, it was a good deal. Great deal for a bit o' money!
But I am wondering about the 84 amps. That has to be a mislabeled item. And what is 4/4 HP?

termite06 · Post by **termite06** » Sat Mar 22, 2008 11:09 am

Dust collection is good on the bandsaw, but I still need to sweep up after the tablesaw.

ryanbp01 · Post by **ryanbp01** » Sat Mar 22, 2008 3:39 pm

Sonny-

The part of your Shopsmith of your question, especially the "Ft. Wayne, Ind." part was intriguing. I checked with my wife who works in customer service at G.E. in Fort Wayne. From what I have gathered, it is very possible that your machine's motor was made here. FYI- GE moved most, but not all, of their small motor operation to Mexico. A few years ago it was sold to Regal-Beloit, another small electric motor manufacturer.

BPR

Sonny · Post by **Sonny** » Sat Mar 22, 2008 9:47 pm

Thanks for the replies.

Len: the 4/4 was a typo, I edited it to read 3/4 HP.

Maybe I was thinking about wood sizes!!

Sonny

johnm · Post by **johnm** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 1:42 pm

ryanbp01 wrote:Sonny-

The part of your Shopsmith of your question, especially the "Ft. Wayne, Ind." part was intriguing. I checked with my wife who works in customer service at G.E. in Fort Wayne. From what I have gathered, it is very possible that your machine's motor was made here. FYI- GE moved most, but not all, of their small motor operation to Mexico. A few years ago it was sold to Regal-Beloit, another small electric motor manufacturer.

BPR

The 3/4 HP motor in my 1955 greenie is a GE motor and its nameplate indicates that it was made in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. When I worked for GE I visited the Ft Wayne plant a few times; they had some really great motor guys there. Sad to see most of it being sold or moved...

Sonny · Post by **Sonny** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 11:06 pm

Ryan and John:

Thanks for the info about the motor being made in Ft. Wayne. (It fills in a little of the history of my Shopsmith).

As for John's comment about it being sad about the industries being gone, Martinsville has the highest rate of unemployment in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

In the past Martinsville was known as the wood furniture and sweatshirt capital of the world.

Now, gone are furniture maufaturers: Bassett, Stanley, Hooker, Pulaski, Martinsville Novelty, Ridgeway Clocks, etc.

They inport all of their furniture and are reporting record profits.

Textiles: duPont, Tultex, Bassett-Walker, Pannills, Vanity Fair and others.

But, get this: with us being the location of highest rate of unemployment, last week the local Employment Office laid off 8 of 23 employees in order to reduce the State payroll! (Make sense to you, Not to Me)

Sonny

cincinnati · Post by **cincinnati** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 6:56 pm

Looks like Shopsmith was made in Ft. Wayne at one time.

" All told the ShopSmith line had been moved from San Diego, CA to Fort Wayne, IN, to Menlo Park, CA, to Cincinnati, OH, and ultimately to what was to be its final resting place, Raymond, MS. What a wild ride!"

Here is the link to the whole story.

http://reviews.ebay.com/Finding-Hidden- ... 0000939276