Share your Magna memorabilia!

[jpdalton]

John,
Thanks for starting this wonderful thread. I easily get lost in the technical stuff and forget about the broader experience of Shopsmithing. You, and others, have some wonderful memorabilia to show.

Ed - Thanks for taking the time to share your items too! It’s great to know there are others out there who’ve acquired these and can appreciate their historical value as part of the Shopsmith story.

[jpdalton]

Below is a picture of the Universal Hold Down original Model 10 version I have. I also have the Mark 5 version using the 5/32" Allen "Shopsmith Toolbox" wrench.

I have one of those with the hex wrench included. It’s a really pristine example - the box is almost perfect, and the original corrugated paper insert is still intact - but I can’t tell how much if any this accessory was used by its original owner.

I did note that the instruction sheet included in this example has a pretty early 1953 date code if I recall correctly, so did the hex wrench inclusion denote a “Mark 5 version” or an improvement 10-ER owners needed too?
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[jpdalton]

Below is a picture of one of my early Power Mount Coupler Kits.

Wow, excellent condition! Do you have a picture of the outside of the box you can share?

[chapmanruss]

Below are the boxes I have for the Power Mount Coupler Kits and are followed by the end of the box. The one facing bottom up is in the best condition. The price tag is still on the box facing up. Moreland Hardware is still in operation and less than 8 miles from me. EDIT: now 15 miles since I moved last June (2023).

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Another item I have is an early set of the Brad Point Drill Bits in their original box. At first, they were called Auger Bits and later they actually did sell a set of Auger Bits and relabeled the Brad Point Bits.

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As many of you know the first Model 10E rip fence only had a front lock. When attached to the wood extension table it used two posts with threaded ends for wing nuts. After the metal extension table replaced the wood one a rear lock assembly was designed and sold. It was not a common item since anyone keeping their wood extension table could not use it with the fence mounted on the wood extension table. The Fence Lock Assembly mounts through the holes used to mount the fence to the wood extension table. Those that chose to upgrade to the metal extension received a version 2 rip fence that had the rear lock with the upgrade kit. The Fence Lock Assembly also has an attachment point for the Mortise Hold Down which is something that has been on Shopsmith rip fences since the original 10E fence was replaced. Below is an unused NIB Fence Lock Assembly part number 130-5X. The small brown paper bag holds the hardware. This is all original parts and note the two nuts are different sizes but still the same thread size. One of the washers was caught a bit off in the punch machine.

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[jpdalton]

Below is an unused NIB Fence Lock Assembly part number 130-5X. The small brown paper bag holds the hardware. This is all original parts and note the two nuts are different sizes but still the same thread size.

Wow… It took me years of looking just to find one of these in rough/used condition. Great artifact!!

[jpdalton]

So it took some time and diligence, but I finally assembled a full “Magna consumables” collection - all the various lubes and glues offered by Magna to keep your Shopsmith running smoothly and your sandpaper firmly in place!
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[SteveMaryland]

I think it was in that dal Fabbro book (see photo elsewhere in this thread) where I first saw Shopsmith tools in action. Borrowed that book from the public library. Must have been 50 years ago. Dreamed about owning a Shopsmith until 1987 when I finally bought one - after buying my first house and attending a Shopsmith demo.

From the pictures in this thread, it looks like Shopsmith did a much more creative and artful job of marketing/advertising in the old days. Maybe "The Internet" has lulled companies into this. Like old cars, old ads had character - but now they all look like salamanders...

Did Shopsmith ever advertise on TV? I note that Mr. Chapman has a 16mm of a TV ad, but did it air? I also know about Norm using one on an early episode of New Yankee Workshop, but for some reason Shopsmith did not push to get on the TV woodwork/home repair shows, why?

I worry about Shopsmith. Will they be around tomorrow? Given the customer service issues, the Power Pro tech issues, and the very negative reviews the current company management has gotten on certain employee-review sites - I worry.

Won't be another Shopsmith - because, as litigious and predatory as the Western legal world has become, who would be crazy enough anymore to manufacture power tools - except the Chinese, and just try suing them...

[jpdalton]

I think it was in that dal Fabbro book (see photo elsewhere in this thread) where I first saw Shopsmith tools in action. Borrowed that book from the public library. Must have been 50 years ago. Dreamed about owning a Shopsmith until 1987 when I finally bought one - after buying my first house and attending a Shopsmith demo.

Glad I was able to jog some joyful memories with the post of the Dal Fabbro book - that’s been a nice artifact of this thread! Unfortunately, I just did a flip-through of that volume and I’m quite surprised to report that there’s not a single reference to or picture of a Shopsmith in the entire book!!

Maybe this is the one you borrowed from the library? Pretty similar appearance, and definitely focused on the machine of your dreams!
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[SteveMaryland]

Yes, the book I read was old even when I read it and it had Shopsmith Mark V pictures, so must not have been the dal Fabbo book. I remember that the author had an Italian surname...

[JPG]

De Christoforo is Italian?

P.S. If it had Mark V or even Mark 5 pix then it was not very old.