How valuable is a 1952 SS 10 ER?

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Tue May 26, 2009 12:30 pm

mickyd wrote:Previous two comments depend highly on how deep the pockets are and ultimately how far you plan on taking the woodworking hobby. For many, and ER is plenty of machine for thier needs and budget.

And it is a DA__ GOOD Drill Press!;)

ryanbp01 · Post by **ryanbp01** » Tue May 26, 2009 3:17 pm

I had a chance to bid on a 10er about 7 years ago at an estate auction. It went for $25.00. I never regretted passing it up. Why? 1) age of the machine,2) parts availability, and 3) I already own a 520. I just don't see the need on having another piece of older equipment around. For me I would rather spend the money on a newer piece of equipment since there would be less chance of downtime waiting for a part to arrive. When looked to replace the 9" Rockwell table saw which had belonged to my father-in-law, I didn't own a drill press or a lathe either. The 520 did all of that and more. Again, I would rather be making sawdust than waiting for parts or restoring an older piece of equipment. Again, that's my opinion and I'm sure that will ruffle a few feathers.

BPR

mbcabinetmaker · Post by **mbcabinetmaker** » Tue May 26, 2009 4:53 pm

BPR

That commit should not ruffle feathers but remember that resorting these machines is actually the main hobby of some members here. I am glad they are preserving them, but it reminds me of a tractor that I once almost bought. I was in my early 20's at the time and ask an older friend to go with me to look at this old Ford. It was worn out from one end to the other. He was a colorful guy and looked at the tractor and then look at me. Son, you can buy a blankedy blank tractor to work with or you can buy a blankedy blank tractor to work on. I've never forgotten his advice and I didn't but that tractor!;)

Mark

mickyd · Post by **mickyd** » Tue May 26, 2009 6:45 pm

ryanbp01 wrote:I had a chance to bid on a 10er about 7 years ago at an estate auction. It went for $25.00. I never regretted passing it up. .......... Again, I would rather be making sawdust than waiting for parts or restoring an older piece of equipment. Again, that's my opinion and I'm sure that will ruffle a few feathers.

BPR

If anyone gets their feathers ruffled, their skin is WAY TO thin. Now if you said the ER was a piece of junk and anyone who owns one should _________(fill in the blank), that might be a different story.

Every time I have gotten into a new "season" of my life, I have always started on the low end and worked my way up to the point I felt comfortable. Some things like golf, I stayed on the low end. Photography, I hit the middle of the road. Cycling, upper middle. ShopSmith ?????. 3 months into it and lovin' it. Haven't made a speck of sawdust yet but if my pleasure to cutting wood is anything like the pleasure I have gotten from the restoration process, I'll probably be in 520 world by next year. Nothing worse than spending a boatload of cash then realizing it was just a passing fade.

charlese · Post by **charlese** » Tue May 26, 2009 11:33 pm

ryanbp01 wrote:The 520 did all of that and more. Again, I would rather be making sawdust than waiting for parts or restoring an older piece of equipment. Again, that's my opinion and I'm sure that will ruffle a few feathers.

BPR

BP! Restoring old machines is not my cup of tea either, but It is a REAL JOY to others. I'm thrilled there are now several folks on THIS FORUM talking and swapping info and pictures about their lovely finds. This, being a Forum sponsored by Shopsmith is really a perfect spot for the 10er folks to exchange their communications. Lately, because of their coming, this Forum has been blessed with all stages of Shopsmith machines. For one, I really didn't like it when the 10er questions were referred to another forum. That didn't seem right!

Yes, I'm more interested in making stuff from wood that mechanic-ing on machinery, but there was a time in my life when I preferred metal mechanics to woodworking. That time has passed! (except for my motorhome).

Although not my personal cup of tea - I really enjoy seeing the efforts of others to make phoenix's out of these old machines. A month or so ago, there was a 10er for sale here in town for $50. I didn't buy it, although it was in good shape. Some days, I'm a little sad I didn't, until I look at the lack of room in my shop.

heathicus · Post by **heathicus** » Wed May 27, 2009 1:52 pm

ryanbp01 wrote:Again, I would rather be making sawdust than waiting for parts or restoring an older piece of equipment. Again, that's my opinion and I'm sure that will ruffle a few feathers.

BPR

No feathers ruffled here! I for one just love old "stuff." And I love building things AND fixing things. I'm one of those people that derives a lot of joy from restoring these old machines. I've spent more time working ON my Shopsmith 10ERs than I have working WITH them, but I enjoyed every minute of it. But I've always been the kind of person to disassemble almost everything I own if for no other reason than just to see how it works. (I've been able to get almost everything back together again, but some things had extra "spare" parts that I was left with!)

It's not for some people and there's nothing wrong with that. But I'm restoring these machines with the intention of USING them. The tool I used the most when restoring my second 10ER was my first 10ER.

I'm also very budget minded and if you want a Shopsmith, restoring a rusted old 10ER is a lot cheaper than getting a new (or even used) Mark V that doesn't need any work.

As for compatibility of accessories between the ER and the Mark V, it has been explained to me that anything fitting on the spindle will work on both machines. Anything attaching to the table will not work between them. Here's a list that was posted to the 10ER Yahoo group of "some" of the currently available accessories that will fit the ER:

These are some of the currently available Mark V items that will work on the 10E and 10ER.

Part # Item
505506 Molder/Dado arbor (Almost identical to the original 10ER 5/8" arbor)
555321 5/8" saw blade arbor
555608 5/8" saw blade arbor (510 longer extension)
505552 2 1/4" x 3" drum sander (and sanding sleeves to fit)
555117 1/2" shaper arbor with collars
505602 Live center
505601 Screw center
505716 dead cup center
505603 tailstock drill chuck arbor
505715 Spur drive center
505590 3 3/4" lathe face plate
505591 6" lathe face plate
503749 standard 8" tool rest
555280 lathe steady rest (available without the Mark V tool post)
555314 4" tool rest
555312 S shaped tool rest
555313 90° tool rest
514631 1/2" router chuck
514632 1/4" router chuck
555191 1/2" router chuck with shield
555189 1/4" router chuck with shield
555302 5/8" grinding wheel arbor
521901 Mortising attachment
521900 Mortising hold-down
52188x Mortising chisel and bit sets
555435 Conical sanding disc (555477 package)
555143 12" steel sanding disc (packages)
555167 Disc sander dust chute
555144 Shaper/Drum sander fence kit
754200 Contour sanding drum
555811 Universal lathe rest system
505553 Molder head
505633 Drill chuck and key
555xxx Lathe chuck systems

Other general items that work well on the 10E/ER
555471 Planer/jointer knife sharpener
505548 6" Stack dado set

Several other items can be modified to work on the 10ER
with a little machine work.

rdewinter · Post by **rdewinter** » Thu May 28, 2009 2:22 am

Well, to satisfy my obsession to buy SS tools, I have to share a couple of my recent buys.....I passed on the 1952 10ER for $40 (too many missing pieces and needed a lot of work) and today I bought a complete pristine 10E for $100. Maybe a little high but this thing isn't even dirty. After I figure it all out and get it mounted I'll post a picture of it.
Now the steal of the year....a model 520, jointer, bandsaw, manuals, lathe tools, casters, a complete set up and still in the original never opened boxes including the steel straps for....are you sitting down...... $1,100. Now there is a catch....it had been sitting around unused for 5 years. I set it up, aligned everything, shot some turbine oil on the pork chop and sheaves, waxed everything I could see with Johnson's paste wax, plugged it in and turned in on...and it has been humming along with zero problems for 5 months now. SWEET!!!
I gave my model 510 with 520 upgrade and a bunch of accessories to my son and he is really enjoying it.
Just had to share my story. But the real moral of the story is...Shopsmith proved itself to be a genuine quality woodworking machine.

Bob
San Diego