Shopsmith Forums

Posted: **Sat Mar 14, 2015 8:29 am**

For those who are really interested in these old wood working shows:

http://www.newyankee.com/index.php?id=5 ... t=10708069

Posted: **Sat Mar 14, 2015 12:29 pm**

I do have a couple of Norm's books that show him using a SS but never in the table saw mode. There was one early segment of This Old House in which the homeowner bought a SS to do some of the work. They did not use the term "Shopsmith" but called a 5 in one tool. The bandsaw was used to make a long curved cut for some garage door openings to retain the look of an old carriage house.
Whether SS funded part of the program or not I don't know but the SS gear went away when the "Bib Bucks Boys" took over the shows and basically PBS as well. ( Porter Cable, DeWalt etc). Did you ever see a segment of the Woodsmith Show?
Mostly funded by Powermatic and other brands that they may feature for that segment.

Posted: **Sat Mar 14, 2015 12:31 pm**

JPG
Yes I did mean the "Demon Strator"
Bill V

Posted: **Sat Mar 14, 2015 2:52 pm**

Story I heard was New Yankee in the beginning had Shopsmith as an underwriter and thus used Shopsmith equipment. Then Shopsmith got into financial trouble and had to back out. It is my understanding Norm was never impressed with the Shopsmith. In fact in his question and answers sessions he mentioned that he preferred stand alone equip, which is expected if you have the room.

By this time Delta took notice and soon the Shopsmith was shoved into the corner. Norm did use the Shopsmith lathe duplicator a number of times after the Delta took over.

Before long every major machine manufacture wanted their product on the show but Norm stuck mostly to the Delta equipment. Although he did use multiple fences on the Unisaw.

Posted: **Sat Mar 14, 2015 3:15 pm**

Norm's shop equipment got bigger, fancier, and more expensive over time. That's one reason I enjoy the earlier shows, more "average guy" tools.

Posted: **Sat Mar 14, 2015 3:30 pm**

There is much of a positive nature in his 'shows', but like most stuff on tv etc. sooo much is either glossed over or ignored.

I watch for the positive stuff but get frustrated over the lack of 'details'.

I wish I could pick up a router(or whatever) and magically it is already set to whatever is required for the task at hand.

One thing about Nick was he showed the 'details' as painful or frustrating as it sometimes 'was'. We do learn more from those exposed details.

End rant!

Posted: **Sat Mar 14, 2015 5:20 pm**

http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/biograp ... 27,00.html

Posted: **Sat Mar 14, 2015 5:31 pm**

jsburger wrote:
dusty wrote:It is true that Norm had a Shopsmith on the set of his very early wood working shows and then Delta came on scene. It is, however, a long stretch to say that Norm got his start on a Shopsmith. Norm was a carpenter before he become a TV celebrity. I know nothing about him inheriting a Shopsmith from his father.

http://www.normstools.com/episode.shtml
Why is it a stretch to say that Norm got his start on a SS? Certainly not on his TV show but it could have gotten him started in wood working at a young age, just like a lot of us. For the demonstrator to say so that is a stretch, I agree, but he had one on his early shows.

Look at Wikipedia, there is not much there but there is nothing that says he started as a "carpenter". He is a college graduate in engineering and business. The anecdote about the barn he built that resulted in This Old House and The New Yankee Workshop has been on one of the New Yankee Workshop shows.

As for the SS, Wikipedia says this about the first programs "The shop's layout and equipment were mostly Abram's preferences."

Why would anyone know anything about him inheriting a SS from his father unless he said it some where? Which apparently he has not. Again, not the demonstrators right to say.

Obviously SS did not launch his woodworking career but I bet it certainly influenced it. What is wrong with that?

SS should investigate this demonstrator and depending on the results should not let him represent the company. That demo was absurd.

http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/biograp ... 27,00.html

Posted: **Sat Mar 14, 2015 7:34 pm**

dusty wrote:
jsburger wrote:
dusty wrote:It is true that Norm had a Shopsmith on the set of his very early wood working shows and then Delta came on scene. It is, however, a long stretch to say that Norm got his start on a Shopsmith. Norm was a carpenter before he become a TV celebrity. I know nothing about him inheriting a Shopsmith from his father.

http://www.normstools.com/episode.shtml
Why is it a stretch to say that Norm got his start on a SS? Certainly not on his TV show but it could have gotten him started in wood working at a young age, just like a lot of us. For the demonstrator to say so that is a stretch, I agree, but he had one on his early shows.

Look at Wikipedia, there is not much there but there is nothing that says he started as a "carpenter". He is a college graduate in engineering and business. The anecdote about the barn he built that resulted in This Old House and The New Yankee Workshop has been on one of the New Yankee Workshop shows.

As for the SS, Wikipedia says this about the first programs "The shop's layout and equipment were mostly Abram's preferences."

Why would anyone know anything about him inheriting a SS from his father unless he said it some where? Which apparently he has not. Again, not the demonstrators right to say.

Obviously SS did not launch his woodworking career but I bet it certainly influenced it. What is wrong with that?

SS should investigate this demonstrator and depending on the results should not let him represent the company. That demo was absurd.
http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/biograp ... 27,00.html

OK

Posted: **Sat Mar 14, 2015 9:56 pm**

What happen to the Disappointing Demo that this started out as??

Shopsmith Forums

Disappointing Demo

Re: Disappointing Demo

Re: Disappointing Demo

Re: Disappointing Demo

Re: Disappointing Demo

Re: Disappointing Demo

Re: Disappointing Demo

Re: Disappointing Demo

Re: Disappointing Demo

Re: Disappointing Demo

Re: Disappointing Demo