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SPT’s What When and Where

jpdalton

chapmanruss wrote
It is interesting that the 1st Model 620 Jointer Manual cover shows a Model 4E mounted on a Model 10 Shopsmith. The same picture used on the 4E manual cover.

Russ - sorry to come to this thread so late. I think I missed it when you first started publishing it. Love the topic!

Do you have a picture of that original 620 Manual? The earliest one I have is an April 1954 printing (well within the time a Mark 5 would have been available to photograph) that features an actual 620 on a Mark 5. What’s interesting is that it’s a copy from a dealer manual and it’s labeling indicates it’s “new” (no prior editions available), so I’ve assumed it was the first manual for the 620.

chapmanruss

Below is a picture of the first Model 620 Jointer cover.

Manual Cover Model 620 Accessory No 11 510 early.jpg

jpdalton

chapmanruss wrote Below is a picture of the first Model 620 Jointer cover.

Fascinating! They clearly spared no expense on a manual for the new model!

What does the inside look like?

chapmanruss

John,

I wish I could show you the inside but I have to find that manual first. That is the Manual that originally came with Model 620 Jointer S/N 11458 made in 1954(?). It is possible that Jointer was actually made at the end of 1953. Jointer S/N 11458 has the lowest Serial Number I have seen for the Model 620 Jointer after the change from the Model 4E Jointer. It is possible the Model 620 Jointer was being sold prior to the introduction of the Mark 5 in March 1954 since it was still able to mount on the Model 10's with the Headrest kit. That may also explain why the Manual cover has the Model 4E Manual cover picture. Of course, this is only speculation.

rpd

jpdalton wrote
chapmanruss wrote Below is a picture of the first Model 620 Jointer cover.
Fascinating! They clearly spared no expense on a manual for the new model!

What does the inside look like?

There a couple of copies on Vintage Machinery

A grainy scan of the original

http://vintagemachinery.org/pubs/detail.aspx?id=2692

and a copy restored by Everett Davis

http://vintagemachinery.org/pubs/detail.aspx?id=18511

jpdalton

rpd wrote
There a couple of copies on Vintage Machinery

A grainy scan of the original

…and a copy restored by Everett Davis

Thanks for the comparison, Ron! I think you’ve solved the mystery…

Looks like there’s almost laughably trivial change between these two manuals. One is the product number:

…and then the slight difference between the versions of the fence adjustment handle (and its accompanying part number change):

chapmanruss

Ron,

Thanks for the link to the Model 4E and 620 Jointer Manuals. Something to note on the Model 620 Jointer Manual is on the back cover lower left corner. The 9048-2 1253 and Copyright 1953 indicates to me that the Model 620 Jointer may have replaced the Model 4E Jointer by December 1953 (note the 1253) which is prior to the introduction of the Mark 5.

In my post dated April 5, 2023, I noted the difference in the Fence Lock Wrench and the Hex Cap Screw between S/N 2145 and 8164. If I am remembering correctly, I have seen that difference in pictures of other Model 4E Jointers. The later Fence Lock Wrench and the Hex Cap Screw are on the Model 620 Jointer serial number 11458 I restored which is shown below. Jointer S/N 11458 is the lowest serial number I have seen for a Model 620 Jointer.

I still wish I hadn't sold that one. 🙁

Model 4E S-N 11458.jpg

chapmanruss

One page 1 of this thread I posted information about the Mark Mounted Planer and the Pro Planer. Today I was again reminded, due to a discussion in another thread, that I missed including another Planer made by Shopsmith. For a time Shopsmith sold a Portable Planer as shown in the picture below. This particular Planer, which I saw for sale on ebay, has a Mfg. Date of 07-91. There isn’t any more I really know about this Shopsmith Planer but if anyone has more information, please post it to this thread.

12 inch Portable Planer.jpg

rpd

Scott Markwood mentions it briefly in this blog post.

https://shopsmith-tool-hunter.blogspot.com/search?q=planer

edma194

Hi Russ,

It's great having this and your other What, When and Where threads available on line. Very valuable resource, thank you.

Someone on My Growth Rings asked what these two holes in the bandsaw case were for:

I had no idea at first. Then I checked a saw that came mounted on a Power Stand. The holes fit a bracket for a belt and pulley guard shown below. The holes and internal reinforcement are cast into the case. They are on all the gray bandsaws I have. No idea if they were there in the earlier Magna and Yuba versions. You can probably check on those.

PXL_20240903_164415066.MP.jpg

chapmanruss

Ed,

You are correct that those two holes, which have been cast in the Main Frame since the beginning, are for the bracket for the Belt Cover you show. There is a different Belt Cover Magna made that also uses those two holes and the same bracket part that attaches to the Main Frame. It covers less of the Belt and can be seen in the picture below on a Power Stand. It can attach directly to the Mounting Base which is another mounting option for the Belt Cover for different SPT's. So, if you were wondering what the center threaded screw hole in Mounting Bases was for, that's it.

In the above case it happens to be attached in the wrong position for use.

More recently, two additional holes have been added to the Bandsaw Main Frame. They are drilled and threaded holes for the Hub Safety Cover as shown below.

Hub Covers can now be found on the Mark Headstock too.

SPT Power Stand 1.jpg

Hub Safety Cover.JPG

jpdalton

edma194 wrote
They are on all the gray bandsaws I have. No idea if they were there in the earlier Magna and Yuba versions. You can probably check on those.

They’re there on my ‘56 bandsaw as well…

…but this concept even predates the bandsaw, as this instruction sheet from 1955 shows.

edma194

jpdalton wrote …but this concept even predates the bandsaw, as this instruction sheet from 1955 shows.

Different guard but same two bracket parts in use since 1955.

chapmanruss

The Instruction Sheet John shows in his post is for the same Belt Guard I showed in the picture in my previous post. It shows how to install it on the Jig Saw. The Jig Saw was introduced about or at the same time as the Mark 5 in March of 1954. The bracket was made to match the holes that the Name Plate/Cover attach to the Jig Saw through. Clever way of doing it, isn't it. The Belt Guard Ed first posted about is a later Belt Guard providing more coverage and protection. Having these Belt Guards able to attach directly to the SPT's would allow the owner to make their own stand with motor to use the SPT without having to buy an OEM Mounting Base for their stand.

chapmanruss

Let's cover one more change to the Magna/Shopsmith Jointers made over the years. The question of having a "special" Washer on the Cap Screws for the Cutter Head Wedges came up. The OP was concerned that they were missing on their Jointer. So, with some research here is what I found. According to the Manual for the Magna 4" Jointer Model 4E from 1953 made to mount on a special Headrest for the Model 10E and 10ER they did not have the washer under the screw. According to the Manual for the Model 620 that replaced the 4E adding the Mounting Posts for the Mark 5 they did use the "special" washers. In 1990 when the Cutter Head changed the washers were again no longer used. They are not shown in the parts diagram for the current Jointer.

To have or not have the "special" Washer, does it really matter? Over the years the engineers at Magna/Shopsmith have changed their minds on that question.

What is so special about the Washer? It is a flat washer that has an outside diameter slightly smaller than the head of the Cap Screw. It is thinner than a common flat washer.

Wedge Screw and Washer.jpg

jpdalton

Yuba Greenie Jointer S/N

chapmanruss wrote
It can sometimes be helpful to know who made the Shopsmith/Magna Tools over the years.

Yuba Power Products Inc. 1958 or 1959 - 1961

Russ - picked up an old Yuba Greenie jointer today, and I was unfamiliar with the serial number format. Do you have any background on the evolution of this serial number?

chapmanruss

I have seen the "M" prefix on Jointer serial numbers. I don't know the reason it was added with the "0" before the rest of the serial number. The lowest I have seen is on a later Model 620 Greenie just prior to them becoming the 620-C. It is serial number M066874 made in May 58 by Magna Power Tool Corporation. These serial numbers with the M & extra 0 continued into the Magna American era and the highest serial number I have seen with it is another 620-C M078187 Goldie. I have owned and restored one of these Jointers with the M prefix. A Goldie 620-C M074192 made in June 60 by Yuba shown below.

M074192 Jointer.jpg

M074192 plate.jpg

jpdalton

chapmanruss wrote
There have been a number of changes in Jointer Parts over the years.

Russ - I was going through some old pics I have of Magna machines and found this one that compares castings of a 1955 (SN 30152, background) vs. 1957 (SN 64016, foreground) model. Guess there was a bit of trial and error needed to trim these down while still maintaining rigidity!

chapmanruss

Yes, the Infeed Table and Base/Outfeed Table castings have changed over the years. Below is another example of those changes in later Jointers. In these cases, it is the casting of the Infeed Tables that were changed. Number 3 looks longer but is not. It is lifted off the surface by the Fence and Cutter Guard still being in place.

In the group above 1 is the oldest (pre-1984), followed by 4 (between 84 and 90). 2 and 3 are of similar vintage made after November 1990.

Here is a look underneath a 1998 Jointer.

In looking through my Jointer pictures I found I have very few of the bottom side.

Jointers bottom view.jpg

jpdalton

Was there ever an Item No. 65 000??

Was flipping through some vintage manuals today from the Magna Engineering/Power Tool era, and was noting the sequence of the SPTs:

61 000 - Jigsaw

62 000 - Jointer

63 000 - Bandsaw

64 000 - Belt Sander

Then suddenly, Magna jumped to:

66 000 - Sprayer

Was there ever something that was conceived or existed with an item number of 65 000?

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