Shopsmith Legacy

[edma194]

The only problem with the video is the inaccurate history. And that isn't going to matter to their new customers. Still wish they would correct it for all of us who have kept them in business over the years.

[RFGuy]

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.

Russ,

What I found funny was JPG stated "I agree it was well done if I ignore the inaccuracies and misleading nature". That was sarcasm in my mind, but perhaps a more accurate meaning is it was ironic. How can one state the video was "well done" if they also thought it was inaccurate and misleading? In your reply you stated "Like JPG I thought the video was well done too. " This is what I found comical. Prior to your post, I was the only one who genuinely thought the Shopsmith video was well done (and posted about it), but maybe I was naive. When you responded to JPG saying you agreed with him that it was well done, I couldn't decide if you were being ironic like JPG in your response or if you simply ignored the inherent irony in JPG's first post. I assumed the latter. Sorry if my word choice of "sarcasm", when a better word choice would have been "ironic" threw anyone off here. I was merely trying to point out something that amused me in the way both of you responded on this thread. In the Shopsmith world, you are both the GOAT (Greatest Of All Time) in my mind, so please see the humor in what I am pointing out here. Hoping you laugh with me at the inherent irony displayed. Lastly, getting back to a serious part, I too hope this video gets new prospective customers interested in Shopsmith. I was a bit surprised by the production quality of the new video, so I had hoped to point it out and celebrate it on this thread. Unfortunately, like seeing a blemish in a new woodworking project, once you see something you can't unsee it...so the historical errors on the website and video you point out stand out like the proverbial sore thumb to me now. Another point is I still want to know Shopsmith's product and/or customer strategy. It is sad that here we are a year later and I am no more clear on what spare parts they intend to carry and which models of Shopsmith they intend to support going forward. I still shake my head and can't understand why these important points aren't being clarified by Shopsmith L.P. How many parts, how many SPT's and which Mark models do they expect to support going forward. Are these questions so hard, one year after the acquisition to answer for existing and prospective new owners???

[JPG]

I think "D&D" answers those questions.

Now FWIW I consider production quality and accurate content to be two different things. Hence the irony to thee who it seems cannot separate the two.

My skin is far too thick to get my feelings hurt.

Never thought 'goat' was complimentary before now. ThankYou.

[HopefulSSer]

How many parts, how many SPT's and which Mark models do they expect to support going forward. Are these questions so hard, one year after the acquisition to answer for existing and prospective new owners???

As we discussed in a prior thread, the durability and longevity of Shopsmith machines is a blessing and a curse. They're well-engineered and well-made, and thus last forever. Well-made tools are great! Unless they cannibalize sales of your new machines, then they become an obstacle. Maybe this is their "solution" -- don't support older machines and hope they age out quickly, make them obsolete by making them unfixable when they break. Quite a turnabout from past practice, and quite disappointing. Singer sewing machines faced the same problem and addressed it by taking old machines in trade when someone bought a new one, then destroying the traded-in machines to make sure they could never return to the market. Discontinuing all support of old SS machines feels similar.

[RFGuy]

Please forgive my word choices, if my meaning is not apparent. English is not my 1st language, or 2nd, or 3rd, or.....even 54th, BUT it is the 1st language I learned when I arrived on this planet. So, please bear we me, as I hope my point becomes clear below. The most appropriate definition for legacy, I believe, is

legacy: of, relating to, associated with, or carried over from an earlier time, technology, business, etc.

Well, I guess that is true enough, right? This video makes perfect sense because it IS about legacy. Shopsmith was a carry over from Magna Engineering, Shopsmith RLF was a carry over from Shopsmith and now Shopsmith L.P. is a carry over from Shopsmith RLF (apologies if I am not getting this history totally correct - and for leaving out Yuba). So, I guess this video is celebrating the fact that Shopsmith L.P. is just the latest generation to carry over, but that doesn't say what they are carrying over and what is being left behind. I mistakenly thought legacy was about keeping the workhorse (most units sold being Mark V) viable into the future. Well, at least that is what Shopsmith RLF attempted to do in maintaining some backwards compatibility and parts availability for the Mark V. IF I understand the present D&D strategy conventional headstocks (Mark V) won't be supported into the future. So, for example, if you need a new speed control quadrant & worm gear, better purchase it now before existing inventory dries up. Otherwise it is purchase a PowerPro Gen 2 headstock at $2.7k. Am I the only existing Shopsmith customer that has heartburn over this business strategy? Sure seems like a complete 180 to those who ran Shopsmith RLF IMHO.

I agree that Shopsmith generally over the years has had good build quality, but honestly most similar woodworking tools I consider do as well. I started on a crappy Craftsman TS in my Dad's woodshop as a kid before he bought his 510. The difference was night and day to me, so I would take that 510 over that Craftsman TS any day. For decades, Delta Unisaw's were considered a benchmark in the woodworking industry...in other circles Powermatic was considered king. Everyone has their favorites, so we just happen to be on a forum that appreciates Shopsmith which is a good thing, but I also want to highlight there are other good brands out there. Shopsmith was supposed to be different because it was durable, but also you could parts for it to make repairs/upgrades. My FIL had some nice JET power tools in his woodshop. Also, I drool over the Laguna REVO lathe any time I see it in a store. The build quality looks very good on it, even though I am sure it is made in China. In the past what separated Shopsmith from every other woodworking tool machine was their desire to maintain parts inventory for decades old machines and some backwards compatibility. IF D&D is their new business strategy, then I see no difference between Shopsmith L.P. and EVERY other woodworking tool company today. For me that is a sad revelation...guess I should have better understood what the word "legacy" really meant. Now I do. I guess Shopsmith L.P. has become exactly like Singer sewing machines now.

[JPG]

They taking tradeins?

FWIW a lot of single language folks have a problem with only one.

Like a programming language, one thinks in term of the first encountered. Unfortunately for me that was Fortran II. So most of my 'code' resembles an Italian dinner.

Also IIUC Magna Engineering, Magna Tool Co, Yuba Manufacturing, Magna American, Garden tool Co?, Shopsmith Inc., RLF Tools, ??????,Nick & Co.

[chapmanruss]

RFGuy,

Don't feel bad about how you interpreted my post about how I felt about the new Video. When reading what someone has typed as opposed to talking to someone in person it can be hard to understand just how they are feeling about a subject. If we were talking face to face about this, you would have understood what I was expressing with my comments. The confusion comes when I typed that I like the new video but then criticize it.

As for the Mark V, In the topic Shopsmith Mark 5 What When and Where in my post on September 6, 2021 page 6 I said

I had pondered if the Mark V 520, the last remaining Mark V Shopsmith was going to be phased out like the previous Mark V Models and had mentioned that in this thread. At this point with the new Mark 4 and the Mark V 520S coming out I believe the Mark V 520 will be around for some time now.

I guess I was wrong.

In my first post in Shopsmith Mark 5 What When and Where I said this about the companies.

I think it is important to know that there have been several companies that have made the Shopsmith/Magna Tools over the years. In 1947 Magna Engineering Corporation was formed by the inventor and his partners to make the Shopsmith Model 10E 5 in 1 tool. It was Magna Engineering Corporation that introduced the Mark 5. Magna Engineering Corporation existed on its own from 1947 to 1955 when it split into two divisions. Magna Engineering Corporation retained the Design and Manufacturing operations and Magna Power Tool Corporation took over the Sales and Marketing. This was from 1955 until 1958 and is the reason you see Magna Power Tool Corporation on the Shopsmith’s name plate and printed materials. In 1958 Yuba Consolidated Industries, Inc. purchased Magna and another company then formed Yuba Power Products Inc. During this time, they also made the Yard Smith line of power garden tools. Yuba sold the rights to the Shopsmith/Magna product lines to a group of employees in 1961 who formed Magna American Corporation. Magna American Corporation continued into the late 1960’s until sales dwindled down to nearly nothing and they closed operations. It was Magna American Corporation that gave us the first Shopsmith Mark VII that was quite different from the Mark 5 in not only looks but in how it operated. There are different years given depending on where you read about the Shopsmith story as to when Magna American Corporation discontinued operations. This, I believe, is because of the different dates they ceased production of different tools. The Mark 5 production ended around 1965 but the Mark VII continued well into 1968 and maybe as late as the beginning of 1969. It seemed this was to be the end of the Shopsmith/Magna Tools line. In 1972 Shopsmith Inc. was formed to bring back the Shopsmith Mark 5 and the related SPT’s. The Mark 5 was back for sale in 1973. This brought another change as all the Magna named SPT’s were now Shopsmith tools although Magna markings remained on several SPT’s for years after Shopsmith Inc. started. There are two additional names of companies to mention. The first is RLF Shop LLC from 2010 and RLF Brands LLC from 2010 – present. Although still known as simply Shopsmith to most of us it is RLF Brands LLC that now owns Shopsmith but the why of that is in itself is another story.

This doesn't include the change last year.

[RFGuy]

Like a programming language, one thinks in term of the first encountered. Unfortunately for me that was Fortran II. So most of my 'code' resembles an Italian dinner.

LOL...I wasn't even counting computer languages that I know.