Shopsmith Forums

JPG wrote:

jsburger wrote:

JPG wrote:
The sn's reset with the introduction of the 510(perhaps the reason for the '51 - ' prefix). 4 digits in 86, 5 digits came in 87. Mine was an early (86) 4 digit sn.

Clipboard01.jpg

P.S. Daylight pix did not happen.

Then the SN chart on the SS web site is useless. Still I guess the SS chart does not include Model 510's. I guess they should fix that to avoid confusion.

What I posted came from the SS site. Has it changed?

Maybe not but there are apparently two different charts.

http://www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/serialnumber.htm

Yes historically there were at least 2 versions accessed differently. IIRC there WAS a 'how old is it' link. I looked for the version I posted, but could not find it tonight.

Yes I agree that if the 510 is a separate set of sn's they should be listed, but that is all 'historical' stuff that with the inception of date codes has apparently become 'passe'.

I suspect that this is the link to which you refer: http://www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/faq/markv.htm

I have it because it was saved it to a document on my computer. I looked for it on the current website and was also unable to find it. I guess I need to spend more time familiarizing myself with the new website. There have been many changes.

The chart that is currently on the website is a faithful restatement of the data contained in the chart posted by JPG except that the current Shopsmith chart shows some 510 serial numbers for production year 1985 that are missing from the other chart. It is also curious that this later list of 510 serial numbers starts with serial number 000016. If my memory serves me correctly (aka - conjecture), I read somewhere that a small number of these machines (apparently 15) were distributed for evaluation but were never sold outright.

http://www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/serialnumber.htm

The later chart does not clearly distinguish the 500 serial numbers from the 510 serial numbers. Note that toward the bottom of the chart some production years (1985-1987) are listed twice. The first listing in each pair are the serial numbers for the 510 (000016-008007).

There are no serial numbers listed here for 520s.

I thought it strange that such historic data would disappear from the website. A bit of searching and I find that it has not. It has just become necessary that you bore down into the website a bit deeper to find it.

Example: Belt Sander On the shopsmith.com website do a search for belt sander. This will take you to a list of 617 locations where "belt sander" appears. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and you find Pages:. Click on page 4 and you find "Shopsmith -Frequently Asked Questions - Belt Sander". Scroll down and you find a serial number chart entitled "How Old Is It:".

You can do this same sort of search for other items such as the "Strip Sander" or "Crafter's Station" but you will not always find serial numbers. Actually, the details for some items is very sketchy.

Here is my 510 bought in late 1986...

Since you are showing yours, here are mine. Two still different configurations.
Apparent contradiction: The one serial number 152168 reportedly built in May 1983 is rough gray finish which was (allegedly) introduced in 1984.

Also note the 510R tag. The 510s reportedly came off the assembly line beginning in 1985 so when were the 510Rs actually introduced. I have long understood that the 510R was a 500 upgraded but I thought the upgrade was factory which I now know is incorrect. Mine also came to me with the 510 table system (consistent with the 510R tag).