Shopsmith Legacy

[RFGuy]

Anyone catch the new video that Shopsmith dropped this week on their YT channel? Overall, I thought the video was well done and I liked that it showcased several different generations (models) of Shopsmith equipment. Maybe I am being too hard on them (in other threads) for NOT supporting past models of Shopsmith tools. I mean good luck getting original factory direct replacement parts for a 1968 Camaro. Thankfully there are manufacturing alternatives that exist out there for it. I wish there were more options for replacement parts of the Mark V (what I own), but also for the 10ER, Mark VII, etc., etc. To me, it seems clear that they must focus on the Mark 7 (likely PowerPro Gen2) going forward. Perhaps it makes the most business sense. It would be good to know though, how they intend to support Mark 7 customers going forward. For those of us with a Mark V (500, 510, 520), it would also be good to know which parts we can expect to still be able to receive in the foreseeable future or not. Assumptions keep getting made that any parts common to the Mark 7 would continued to be carried. I am not so sure. For example, after existing supply of Gen 1 LCD modules sell out, will you only be able to upgrade to Gen 2 LCD module and will that require a new power supply, etc. for Gen 1 owners? IF this company really wants to keep existing customers and hold new customers, I think improved messaging (communication) would help and this video below is a start, but we need more. Just be honest with us and let us know which direction you are headed. When Nick took over, there was lots of speculation (on this forum) about what direction the company might go post acquisition. Here we are, over a year later and the picture is only a little clearer today IMHO. Information please...

P.S. This post is partially in response to the revelation that Shopsmith Mark V parts supply is "D &D [dead and discontinued]" per Shopsmith customer support response and also the fact that Shopsmith's phone number seems to have gone out of service again recently before coming back online:

viewtopic.php?p=317441#p317441
viewtopic.php?p=317431#p317431

[JPG]

I agree it was well done if I ignore the inaccuracies and misleading nature.

1953 is not when Shopsmith began. Mark 5 yes but 1947 would be more precise.

Taking advantage of the 'legacy' view is very misleading when D&D is the curent attitude.

JMHO

I do wonder who spoke D&D initially at SS(I have my notion of who!). Unfortunately I think that may apply to the company shortly.

[RFGuy]

JPG,

Thanks. All good points. Yeah, I was trying to bring a glass half full mindset to re-evaluate my position once again on this tool company - you know because a time or two I have been pidgeon-holed for being too negative for specific posts on this forum. So, I am trying to see all sides on this issue. What I meant was that I thought the production quality and general content of the new Shopsmith video was well done IMHO. It should serve them well to promote the Mark 7. Unfortunately I was not as eagle-eyed as you to uncover the details you highlight, so thank you! I was thinking about the legacy aspect though with my original post. I wish they would better support all versions of Shopsmith equipment, or as many as they can, but I also understand their business has to be profitable. This is kind of where I was coming with the Mark 7 questions/comments on parts availability for it. Will Shopsmith stand behind Mark 7 owners and continue to provide EVERY internal part for replacement on future orders for the foreseeable future? Given Shopsmith's track record of many decades on past models, at least some owners might have concerns with D & D for the Mark 7 as they have dropped support for past models.

[JPG]

Another glitch in the ABOUT tab on the website. Two bearing quill pix showed a 520 rather than a 510.

I also noticed an improvement in the PARTS tab - common hardware items now priced at $3.95(a reduction), but the description now includes specific description(i.e. 1/4-20 x 1 1/4). That should decrease the support effort fer sure.

[chapmanruss]

Like JPG I thought the video was well done too.

I wish they could get their own history right. I have two restored 1947 Model 10E's from the first group made that are examples that the company formed before 1953 to make Shopsmith tools. It was actually in 1947 that they made the first Shopsmith 5 in 1 tool. The video even shows a Model 10.

While we are on the subject, the history page still says Magna America put the Mark 5 into production in 1953. What happened to Magna Engineering Corporation (the original company and who actually introduced the Mark 5), Magna Power Tool Corporation and Yuba not to mention the "n" in Magna American? For those who don't know the history well Magna American was the company making the Shopsmith/Magna Tools in the mid 1960's not the 50's. It would have been nice with all the webpage changes if they could have corrected errors that have existed for a long, long time. The new history page seems to have the previous information with some errors still but in a different format. As an example, the Mark 5 changed to the 1-1/8 HP Motor (between March and April 1961) just prior to the change to the Poly V Drive (between April and May 1961).

Okay, enough soap box time for today.

[RFGuy]

I agree it was well done if I ignore the inaccuracies and misleading nature.

Like JPG I thought the video was well done too.

Russ, JPG,

You guys are funny. Fairly sure JPG's statement above was sarcasm and based on the context of everything else he said he does NOT like the new video. I am the one who genuinely said that I liked the new Shopsmith video. What is very telling is that there were crickets in response to this new thread that I posted, with the exception of your noteworthy (and accurate) responses. Guess all the regular and infrequent forum members are on summer vacation?

[JPG]

Oh I 'liked' the new video, just did not like the slip ups.

I was not trying to be sarcastic, merely up front.

Does this mean we three are "irregular"?

[RFGuy]

Does this mean we three are "irregular"?

JPG,

Well my hope was that you and Russ are regular members (hard earned, well deserved, well respected) here while I continue to be "the anomaly", but who knows...this could all just be a dream in my head (hint for those who don't know RUSH lyrics - this would be a reference to the line The dream is still in my head from 2112).

P.S. IF this all is just a dream, does this forum even exist??? Does Shopsmith even exist???

[JPG]

For the present, yes.

[chapmanruss]

RFGuy,

Sorry it came off as sarcasm, I really do like the new video. I hope it gets new prospective customers excited about woodworking and the Shopsmith Tools.

I just wish, as I have for a long time, that they could get their history correct. Until I really dove into the information out there from multiple sources, I believed that Magna America introduced the Mark 5. I mean the company wouldn't post incorrect information about their history, would they?

The Topic I started titled Shopsmith History on February 14, 2018, goes into a lot of the incorrect information about Shopsmith/Magna tools out there. It is at the link below.

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