VonZipper wrote: Tue Sep 03, 2024 3:14 pm
... Basically, she explained that all the legacy Model 500-520 parts will be phased as they current inventory of parts are sold off. I understand needing to streamline the amount of products they produce, but I don't have to like it!
JPG wrote: Tue Sep 03, 2024 3:50 pm
There goes SS's greatest asset! Same result as a bankruptcy re older parts.
So back up a few years and here we go again.
I know that it has been mentioned by some that the Mark 4 (Shorty) has been discontinued. These posts got me to go look on the new website and I also don't see availability of a new Mark V Model 520, later marketed as a Mark 520S, or anything else with a conventional headstock. Same for any variant marketed in a stripped down form with availability of work packages. If these have all been discontinued I didn't get the memo. It seems like there is a new vision for the company that isn't being shared with the Shopsmith Community that they like to talk about. Maybe it's all on FB.(?)
DLB, on the August 22, I participated in the Shopsmith webinar and sales pitch with Mike Young. I brought up to Mike that when I selected the Mark 4 on the website (the old version), I received a message to contact customer support. I specifically asked about the Mark 4 and Mike Young said that it would no longer be available. I told him that I saw the same message to contact customer support when I selected the 520 on the website. Mike said that he wasn't aware of that. However, the "admin" rep on the webinar chimed in that, going forward, the 520 wouldn't be available any longer either. Like you, I haven't seen any official notice on discontinuation on those models but the conversation on the webinar re-enforces what you see with the removal of all the Model 500 parts diagrams and from the new website. I don't even think the 520 or Mark 4 appear on the new website at all. Sounds like he end of the road for the legacy Mark 5/V's to me. Let's hope I'm wrong...
Last edited by VonZipper on Fri Sep 13, 2024 7:16 pm, edited 2 times in total.
VonZipper wrote: Tue Sep 03, 2024 3:14 pm
... Basically, she explained that all the legacy Model 500-520 parts will be phased as they current inventory of parts are sold off. I understand needing to streamline the amount of products they produce, but I don't have to like it!
JPG wrote: Tue Sep 03, 2024 3:50 pm
There goes SS's greatest asset! Same result as a bankruptcy re older parts.
So back up a few years and here we go again.
I know that it has been mentioned by some that the Mark 4 (Shorty) has been discontinued. These posts got me to go look on the new website and I also don't see availability of a new Mark V Model 520, later marketed as a Mark 520S, or anything else with a conventional headstock. Same for any variant marketed in a stripped down form with availability of work packages. If these have all been discontinued I didn't get the memo. It seems like there is a new vision for the company that isn't being shared with the Shopsmith Community that they like to talk about. Maybe it's all on FB.(?)
- David
David,
I think they just killed it off quietly. No big announcement or fanfare. It went just like old Soldiers do: they simply fade away...
Well the end is near! We can go back to squirreling away critical parts like a few years back.
Been a great ride!
Hope all that is incorrect!
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╟JPG ╢
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Goldie(Bought New SN 377425)/4" jointer/6" beltsander/12" planer/stripsander/bandsaw/powerstation /Scroll saw/Jig saw /Craftsman 10" ras/Craftsman 6" thicknessplaner/ Dayton10"tablesaw(restoredfromneighborstrashpile)/ Mark VII restoration in 'progress'/ 10E[/size](SN E3779) restoration in progress, a 510 on the back burner and a growing pile of items to be eventually returned to useful life. - aka Red Grange
JPG wrote: Tue Sep 03, 2024 5:43 pmWell the end is near! We can go back to squirreling away critical parts like a few years back.
Been a great ride!
Hope all that is incorrect!
JPG,
Just curious how many and/or when were the last times this happened? I believe they went through bankruptcy or to the brink of bankruptcy twice before, right? Just curious. I only joined the forum a few years ago even though I have used Shopsmith equipment for over three decades now. I was blissfully unaware before when they were on the brink, but thankfully they came back. I really hope this isn't the direction they are going in because there are wearable parts (consumables) on these machines. No different than needing new tires, belts, hoses, brake pads, etc. on automobiles. At least in that industry there is a somewhat healthy array of 3rd party parts suppliers to keep them on the road. Not so much for Shopsmith unfortunately. IF they are only going to sell the Mark 7 and no replacement parts, NOT even for the Mark 7, then I might as well start to make arrangements to de-Shopsmith my shop and accelerate acquisition of other tools. Of course, I am likely to be taken off planet before I can execute this plan, but that would be my plan if I was going to stay on this planet. Oh well...I am sad to see this for Shopsmith if this is all true.
RFGuy wrote: Tue Sep 03, 2024 6:34 pm
...IF they are only going to sell the Mark 7 and no replacement parts, NOT even for the Mark 7, then I might as well start to make arrangements to de-Shopsmith my shop and accelerate acquisition of other tools...
I don't/haven't seen any indication that they would sell no replacement parts for the Mark 7. Unlike the other versions, there appears to be a complete parts breakdown for the M7 on the new web site. Which of course includes numerous parts that are common to the Mark 5/V, especially Model 520.
DLB wrote: Tue Sep 03, 2024 10:13 pmI don't/haven't seen any indication that they would sell no replacement parts for the Mark 7. Unlike the other versions, there appears to be a complete parts breakdown for the M7 on the new web site. Which of course includes numerous parts that are common to the Mark 5/V, especially Model 520.
- David
David,
Yeah, I was just extrapolating based on existing information available. If they released the 520S, Mark 4, etc. recently only to suddenly obsolete them with no warning and no longer offer spare parts for them, then what notice, if any, might Shopsmith owners receive regarding a change to Mark 7 spare parts inventory? We have no information that they will stop selling any replacement parts, but we also have no information that they won't. Given what we do know, I kind of expect used parts inventory will just dry up and the next time you want a replacement LCD module or power supply module to that PowerPro might require you forking over all of your money for a completely new PowerPro headstock. Nothing stopping them from doing this and abandoning all spare parts inventory IMHO.
As for the Mark 7 'spare parts inventory', I doubt they have any anyway. I think Tekatool likely provides that as I surmise all repair activity is done by them.
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╟JPG ╢
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Goldie(Bought New SN 377425)/4" jointer/6" beltsander/12" planer/stripsander/bandsaw/powerstation /Scroll saw/Jig saw /Craftsman 10" ras/Craftsman 6" thicknessplaner/ Dayton10"tablesaw(restoredfromneighborstrashpile)/ Mark VII restoration in 'progress'/ 10E[/size](SN E3779) restoration in progress, a 510 on the back burner and a growing pile of items to be eventually returned to useful life. - aka Red Grange
Hey, I started reassembly on the bench portion of my Mark V today and need a little help...
Does the position of the Bench Tubes in the Headrest look correct? There isn't a raised casting inside the Headrest like there is on the Base Arm side to locate the end of the Bench Tubes. I just placed the end of the tubes even with the end of curved side of the mounting hole in the Headrest - If that makes any sense. Here's a picture of the Bench Tube where it attaches to the Headrest so you can see what I'm talking about.
Bench Tube position.jpg (262.21 KiB) Viewed 1405 times
Here's a picture of the Way Tube attachment inside the Base Arm. The red pen is pointing to the raised casting that locates the end of the Way Tube.
RF Guy