Shopsmith Forums

dusty wrote:You got into the differences a lot deeper than I was thinking but that is good. Thank you.

The one area where we don't seem to be in harmony is with late version 500s. I believe the last configuration of 500s were first released in 1984 and they were painted rough gray and contained two bearing quills.

Dusty,

I bought mine new from Shopsmith in Oct 1984 and it came w/a 1 bearing quill. I have since upgraded it to a 2 bearing quill (actually took the quill to a machine shop and they added the extra bearing), then to the 510 table then the 520 table and now have the PPro upgrade kit on order (should ship 1st week of Jan).

Jack

claimdude wrote:Dusty,

I bought mine new from Shopsmith in Oct 1984 and it came w/a 1 bearing quill. I have since upgraded it to a 2 bearing quill (actually took the quill to a machine shop and they added the extra bearing), then to the 510 table then the 520 table and now have the PPro upgrade kit on order (should ship 1st week of Jan).

Jack

FWIW Oct 1984 was the first month of production for the 2 bearing quill. The sn began with 19xxxx. Previous 1 bearing machines had sn 18xxxx and less.

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".

If I was to post another poll with the objective of determining which Shopsmith models reside in our various shops - would this be the appropriate list?

Mark II

Mark VII

10E/10ER

Mark 5 Model 500 Greenie Built 1953-1960

Mark 5 Model 500 Goldie Built 1960-1963

Mark 5 Model 500 Gray-Smooth Built 1963-1967

Mark 5 Model 500 Gray-Rough Built 1984

Mark V Model 505

Mark V Model 510 Built 1985-Present

Mark V Model 520 Built 1999-Present

Mark 7 PowerPro Built 2010-

If this is the list, which one should be eliminated - only 10 can be included in a poll?

perhaps two polls. also there is a spot missing for the 70's darker gray wrinkle paint finish

bettyt44720 wrote:perhaps two polls. also there is a spot missing for the 70's darker gray wrinkle paint finish

Yup, I'm confused. What serial number spread are you referring to? In 1972 Shopsmith, Inc came into being but I don't know what they were manufacturing until January 1978. Who built serial numbers 1001-18858? It appears that Shopsmith might have built 18859-20359 and all subsequent.

beeg wrote:Dump the Mark II. Knot many out there and it seems to me this poll has been done in the past.

Yup, you are correct. This poll has been done in the past. In the past, when this poll was done, there are many current members of the forum who were not members then.

beeg, most everything that is done on this forum has been done in the past. But I can take a hint. I'll try hard not do anything redundant again.

dusty wrote:But I can take a hint. I'll try hard not do anything redundant again.

I just meant that IF ya can find it, it may guide ya some.

https://forum.shopsmith.com/viewtopic.php?t=2991&highlight=poll

https://forum.shopsmith.com/viewtopic.php?t=2954&highlight=poll

https://forum.shopsmith.com/viewtopic.php?t=209&highlight=poll

Yup, I can find them.