Shopsmith Forums

jpg40504 wrote:Clues:

.............

Sn 111889 Could Be: Dec, 1981 Or Nov 18, 1989

In Either Case It Should Be Of Shopsmith, Inc. Lineage.

The Paint Texture Becomes The Determining Detail. Smooth=1981/textured=1989 <<<<<<<<<<:)

Yup, I never even considered the possibility that 111889 was a date code.

i think an easier way to tell would be by the type of serial number tag. stamped on the round vent plate '81, on a rectangular sticker below the vent plate '89.

smooth paint plain toggle sticker below the jointor only coupler has the full tale will get pics soon

thanks thad

SDSSmith wrote:I have a headstock from a 510 built in 1989 that has the same model number on its sticker as the on tbergh's headstock. The serial number, as has already been noted, is a manufactured date code. The headstock was manufactured November 18, 1989.

I have noticed that all SS part numbers are knot available to us on the internet. The part (or model) number, 555510 may be a good number, but knot for us "end users". Perhaps it is the number for that particular headstock??? Just a thought.

For future reference, DO ALL UNITS MANUFACTURED BY "SHOPSMITH, INC." HAVE 'SS' PRECEDING THE SN / DATE CODE??????

jpg40504 wrote:For future reference, DO ALL UNITS MANUFACTURED BY "SHOPSMITH, INC." HAVE 'SS' PRECEDING THE SN / DATE CODE??????

I have not found this to be true and I have bought quite a number of Shopsmiths.

jpg40504 wrote:For future reference, DO ALL UNITS MANUFACTURED BY "SHOPSMITH, INC." HAVE 'SS' PRECEDING THE SN / DATE CODE??????

NO, you can not properly draw that conclusion. Mine has no SS. It would be my conclusion that there was no standard method of marking that held true through this time period and change of owners.

What you see on the Shopsmith website (referenced above) is the best we are going to get. Hey, have fun with it. It is like a game of CLUE.

Green or Gray, Smooth or Rough, Toggle or Safety, Poly V or Gilmer, 3/8hp or 1 1/4hp, small table or large, magnetic rule or no rule, serial number or date code, etc, etc.

Question: When using the date code method, are multiple machines built the same day given the exact same date code?

Hey. I know this is a seriously old thread. Hopefully someone is still on here.... It seems I have the same kind of machine here. Model Number 555510 with serial 03188. So maybe this was made 03/18/1988? It has the textured paint and double quill bearings and the emerson 1 1/8 110 motor. I picked this thing up off craigslist for 400$ and I am rebuilding it. This is my first shopsmith. I have ordered all new bearings and belts and some other odds and ends parts. It came with what I think is the very basic table set up, and a band saw. I needed the to get the drill press chuck and the saw arbors. I was told this was a 1982 or 84 model but the numbers just don't match up and neither do the internals once I did the complete tear down. Any thoughts on what type I have here would be cool. I think I got a pretty good deal. It ran fine just seriously loud, thats why I decided to tear it down and tune it up. The motor by itself almost makes no noise.

June/July 1986. No it is not a date code.
These do be noisey due to the Reeves drive sheave slop.

'basic table' Could it be a 510 headstock on a '500'?