Shopsmith Forums

Hank is just as hansom as your 520.

I should clarify a little bit. I said

My original Headstock says the same except date code 11-13-01. The Headstock I put my Power Pro upgrade into which is date code 09-11-01 says 50th Anniversary Edition MKV and is Model 555861. Both of my Headstocks are 50th Anniversary Editions.

My original Shopsmith is a 520 the same as agleason's. I bought headstock parts (main casting with way tube lock, motor pan, belt cover & pinion assembly) to put my Power Pro upgrade into so I could keep my original headstock complete. Model 555861 with date code 09-11-01 very well may have come from a Model 505. I don't know the history only who I bought the parts from and what the sticker says.

Dusty, from what you said

The product label calls this a "Pro Mark V Unit". Never saw one called a "Pro".

I wonder if it refers to the Pro Fence System since this is well before the Mark 7 and the Power Pro Headstock was introduced. I do know there have been a lot of Model Numbers like 555869 and 555861 since the sticker was added for the Date Code. Also many different descriptions. Below is an interesting one.

Knowing that Shopsmith cannot, by law, sell a used unit (used for any purpose) as new - could the following explain the labels?

"Pro Mark V Unit Recon" - is this maybe a "Promotional Mark V Unit that has been reconditioned" for sale.

Is this maybe a - "Mark V Model 520 Static Display" that was used as a display/demonstration unit.

I got my belt sander up and running. After some adjustments the belts track great!
The sander is running in these pictures.

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First off, that is one nice looking 520. The previous owner took outstanding care of it and it looks pristine. Congrats, I think you bought a gem and you are going to love using it.

On the second sticker question, since I have never had to do it, does Shopsmith place a second sticker on the unit if you return it to them for sevice or repair and they upgrade the system to a newer model? It just seems odd that the two stickers are dated 5 months apart with different model numbers.

More uninformed guessing but here is what I believe these two labels tell us.

The first sticker identifies the unit as a "Mark V 520 Static Display" manufactured 09-05-02 as Model #555886. Static Display being the key words.

The second sticker identifies the unit as a "Pro Mark V Unit Recon" with a manufacturing date of 02-11-03 and a Model #5558698. I read this to mean the Mark V was Reconditioned for sale as a used unit and that something significant was changed causing the Model # to roll. Do note that the Model # has an extra digit.

I have never seen a unit with more than one sticker so this is pure supposition on my part. I further believe that the term "Pro" is an abbreviation for some other word and that it is not the same as a "Power Pro".

At one time, the fence system was referred to a "pro fence" model.)(IIr/uC)

The 520 fence is still referred to as the "Pro Fence" but the labels for one I would not expect to find on a headstock.

This is all very confusing to me because my background in manufacturing has taught me that all changes result in a sequential change in part numbers and many times nomenclature. I don't believe I see evidence of that with Shopsmith. Now I probably could not say that if I had access to all the engineering drawing files but as a user their documentation leaves something to be desired.

The best we can tell from all of this is Shopsmith uses the description and model number to identify what it was when originally sold. We may never know what they all mean. If someone would have bought a 500, 505, 510 and 520 the same day in 2000 they would each have different model numbers and descriptions even though the headstock, and more precisely the belt cover, they are attached to are the same. Lets not get into if they were all still for sale at that time, I just wanted to use the example. It is the changes/upgrades we do to them after that makes this information less useful. My Mark V 520 Date Coded 11-13-01 PRO MARK V UNIT Model Number 555869 is really no longer that. The Headstock has been upgraded to a Power Pro in a different Headstock. It has the Double Tilt upgrade and now looks and functions the same as a new Mark 7. In fact I have everything on it and the accessories for it that a new Mark 7 comes with. The most important thing here is to know what has been done to your Shopsmith if it needs any repairs and enjoy the Shopsmith you have, upgraded or not, they are all fantastic machines. I actually do not have a picture of mine now that it has been upgraded. I really should at least for insurance purposes.

A few more pictures of my 50th anniversary Mark V 520! I have gone through the alignment steps once and planning to do it a second time. I have been rearranging my garage to give my Shopsmith a home where using it is convenient. The bandsaw is next on the list to clean and check out. New pegboard to hang all the stuff on also.

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