The motor size is likely correct unless the date is way way off. The quill if stock would be a single bearing, but if the user(s) upgraded it could well be a double bearing. From the outside you can not tell which is which, it would require removing the quill and knowing what to look for....
Again, age is not an appropriate way of judging a shopsmith. I have several machines all older then the one you are looking at. The one I purchased new is from 1976. How it was maintained makes all the difference. I personally own 5 machines so I have seen what can come from lack of maintenance but once that is fixed they are back to working great.
The cost of upgrading a 510 to a 520 is a pretty steep step. Purchase of the kit is $476. In some cases you might do better searching out a 520....
The improved fence system on the 520 was worth it to me but many here are happy with the 510 system. So it is not necessary a required upgrade.
The other upgrade of the powerpro is also an expensive one but I've gone that route as well. The addition of the double tilt gets you all the way to a modern machine. If you check that out you will see what a modern shopsmith looks like, and remember you can do all of these steps as upgrade to most machines even back into the 1950's.
BTW I have a 10ER from 1953, and they don't even call that old....
Ed
tjg79 wrote:Thanks for that information. That is very helpful. I suspect this is a Model 500 that was upgraded to a Model 510 sometime before the current owner. He indicated the machine is equipped with a 1-1/8 HP 13.5 Amp motor and double quill. He indicated that it's probably 1985 vintage, but the serial is 1983. So, I now suspect it's a 1983 model upgraded with model 1985 parts.
I'm still wondering what a fair price would be. Considering the availability of used Shopsmiths, I don't see paying a top price for a 30-year old machine, because they pop-up all the time.
I'll likely have to do a detailed inspection and then determine the cost of upgrading to a complete Model 520 level. So, now the question is what would a Model 500, upgraded to 510 and then newly upgraded to 520 be worth? The cost of the upgrade plus the cost of the used machine shouldn't exceed the value of a two time upgrade to 520 for a thirty-year-old base machine. The accessories will likely need some parts due to age as well.
Regards
THAT is old.