These inputs are great but when we begin pulling information together from different sources it does get confusing. Examples being the last two posts from claimdude and JPG.
Claimdude reports that he bought his machine in 1984 and it was originally configured with a one bearing quill. Simultaneously, JPG reports that the two bearing quill was introduced in October 1984 as identified by SN 19xxxx.
All that seems OKAY but then other information gets added. I now have possession of headstock SN 152166 (May/June 1983) that has a poly-v, 1 1/8hp motor, 2 bearing quill and rough gray paint. Hmmmm...The two bearing quill and the rough gray paint seem to have been in existence before the dates indicated in the charts shown on the Shopsmith site.
http://www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/faq/markv.htm
I can only conclude that either my own data is wrong or that some Shopsmiths were produced with whatever parts/assemblies were on hand at the time and that specific configurations may be in contradiction with a strict reading of the charts.
JPG, do you have other information that indicates the 19XXXX series was used to identify the introduction of the two bearing quill or was this a logical deduction? Does 13xxxx identify the 1 1/8hp motor introduction. Do all the Goldies have poly-v? What happened in 1984 to warrant this comment in the chart referenced above? -
"1984 (Gray-Rough/Texture)
(provides more spindle stability). To use this upgrade, the unit must have the Poly-V drive system".
The only thing that seems absolute is that if it is rough-gray it was produced by Shopsmith, Inc or RLFShop, LLC. All other color schemes/textures were produced by someone else. 
I conclude that the chart is, at best, a GUIDE to determine approximate date of production with emphasis on "approximate".
