Serial number lookup

[chapmanruss]

Under the "Community" Heading there is the Topic "How to Post a Picture" which is always near the top of the list of topics. It is a bit long as posting pictures here has changed a bit and questions have been answered. The main thing for posting pictures to this Forum is having the picture's file size being small enough. Current cameras including cell phone cameras take picture too large to use. I reduce the file size of my pictures using the program paint which is included in the Microsoft operating system. I generally reduce the pixels down to 1000 x ? (a smaller number), but they can be larger up to a 3 MB file size currently. This makes the file size small enough to post. In Full Editor & Preview (not Quick Reply) below the box you type in is Options and Attachments tabs. Click on Attachments and select Add files.

Shopsmith Model 10ER serial number ER46453 was made in the Eastern Plant after April 1951 and about the same time the Model 10ER I posted the picture of which was made in the Western Plant. I look forward to seeing your Model 10ER.

[MichaelCfffg]

Hello! I just joined the forum, and this is my first post. We bought a property in Franklin County, Missouri several years ago, and I made sure that the old Shopsmith machine in the garage was included in the deal. I've had a need to use it a couple of times, but was afraid to do much with it until I really knew just what condition it is in. I would like to restore it enough to make it more usable, and am now in the process of trying to learn more about this particular machine and what its condition is in.
It is a 10-ER, and its serial number is R59677. It appears to be on a homemade base that is fairly well made, but does flex just a little bit as I'm trying to pry it up into the drill press position. That function appears to be frozen, and may never have been utilized. I've sprayed the pivots with Liquid Wrench a few times, and am waiting to see if that frees it up. The motor drive belt tension adjustment was the same way, but I've got it loose at one end so far the same way.
The spindle seems to run fine now since I've installed a new motor drive belt, and it sounds like the spindle bearing (probably just one) should be permanently lubricated, but could this be true after 70+/- years? I'm concerned about running it at anything more than the lowest speed until I've gotten some reassurance that it can take it. This will probably entail checking the headstock temperature frequently after I can adjust the drive belt tension a little better.
I'm posting this to this thread in the hope that someone can give me a pretty good idea of when this particular machine was made. A couple of posts back it looked like mine was pre-1951, but I found a list on one of these forum threads listing a bunch of user's machines that indicated that mine might be a 1952 model. There apparently used to be a link on the Shopsmith website where you could find out when your machine was built, but that link is no longer working, and I couldn't find much about the old machines on their website. Can somebody please give me a pretty good idea of when my machine was built? Thank you very much for your help with this!

[chapmanruss]

MichaelCfffg,

To my knowledge there was not a list published of when Shopsmith Model 10E and 10ER tools were made. There has been a list of when Shopsmith Mark 5/V tools were made but with a lot of missing information. As for the Model 10's we do know when certain ones were made. The Model 10E was first shipped, with 250 tools, to west coast Montgomery Ward Stores on November 15, 1947. Those started with serial number 1001. Of importance to you is the change made in April 1951 going from double wedge locks to single wedge locks. Starting with serial number ER40908 for the Eastern Plant and serial number R53198 for the western Plant we know Model 10ER's with lower serial numbers were made prior to the April 1951 change and higher serial numbers made after the change. This would put your Model 10ER serial number R59677 made in the Western Plant being manufactured around mid 1951.

The list you found is probably the one started by Skip Cambell and the year made for those tools on the list is a guess. Some may be close while others may not. There is also a difference between when they were made and when they were sold. Some of those on the list may have paperwork that came with them as to when and even where they were sold.

I would recommend you start your own topic in the Maintenance and Repair section to ask questions and keep us up to date on your progress. Having a topic started for your Model 10ER will keep all the information in one place. Others and myself will be happy to help with any questions you may have.

[MichaelCfffg]

................Of importance to you is the change made in April 1951 going from double wedge locks to single wedge locks. Starting with serial number ER40908 for the Eastern Plant and serial number R53198 for the western Plant we know Model 10ER's with lower serial numbers were made prior to the April 1951 change and higher serial numbers made after the change. This would put your Model 10ER serial number R59677 made in the Western Plant being manufactured around mid 1951.

The list you found is probably the one started by Skip Cambell and the year made for those tools on the list is a guess. Some may be close while others may not. There is also a difference between when they were made and when they were sold. Some of those on the list may have paperwork that came with them as to when and even where they were sold.

I would recommend you start your own topic in the Maintenance and Repair section to ask questions and keep us up to date on your progress. Having a topic started for your Model 10ER will keep all the information in one place. Others and myself will be happy to help with any questions you may have.

Thank you for probably pretty much pinning down the date/era of manufacture of my machine. I completely agree with your logic.

I think that the Skip Cambell list you referenced is the list that I was referring to. Thanks!

I had figured on doing exactly that, starting a new topic thread in one of the sections more germane to what I'd like to discuss and ask questions about. As you suggest, it would keep everything about my machine all in one place. Thanks again for your very quick help!

[delta2ul]

Hello!
Another story: I have my father's Shopsmith ER31380. I have always thought it was as old as I am: 1949 It would be nice to know for sure or at least pretty sure. I see in posts that there are no records of the early days but any help would be appreciated.
Thanks!
Dave Ahlberg

[JPG]

You may be a tad older.

Better answer WILL be forthcoming!

[chapmanruss]

delta2ul,

Welcome to the Shopsmith Forum.

JPG has given me my cue.

Shopsmith Model 10ER serial number ER31380 was likely made in 1950 in the Eastern Plant as indicated by the ER prefix to the serial number. As you already understand there is not a lot of records as to when Model 10's were made. I base my 1950 estimation off of Serial Number ER40908 being made in April 1951. Records indicate that ER40908 from the Eastern Plant and R53198 from the Western Plant were made in April 1951 when a change was made to the Model 10ER. So as JPG said you may be a tad older.

[lldeman]

I have 2 mark V’s and with the new website at SS.com, I can not seem to find a working link to be able to look up my serial #’s. I not only want to know when they were made, but also I was looking at upgrades and SS has the double tilt option on sale right now for $379.00 and I am not sure if I can upgrade for not.

My serial #’s are 149163 and 23670

Any info is appreciated..

*** UPDATE *** I did finally find a working URL… but I can’t figure out where mine fit.. 1973-1978 and 1983? Does this look correct?

https://www.shopsmith.com/mark-serial-numbers

[JPG]

The only double tilt variation I know of is power pro vs reeves drive(historical predecessor) due to the difference in weight of the headstock. Sorry I was thinking lift assist(of which there appear to be 4 versions which I suspect has description issues.(or I simply do not understand at all))

That said I do not understand the MarkV 500 exclusion.

links appear broken to detailed descrriptions.

IIUC your interpretation of the dates is correct.

[chapmanruss]

lldeman,

Welcome to the Shopsmith Forum.

Shopsmith Mark 5/V's like yours with the SS prefix to the serial number have them made by Shopsmith Inc. which formed in 1972 to restart producing the Mark 5. Your Mark 5 serial number SS23670 would have been made in August 1978. Your Mark V serial number SS149163 would have been made in April 1983. I use the older month to month list.

Both can use the Double Tilt Upgrade without additional parts (Bench Tubes) needed. It is only the early Mark 5's made in the 1950's having the larger 1-7/8" diameter Bench Tubes that require them to be replaced.

Is there a particular reason you wish to upgrade to the Double Tilt Bench Ends? If it is for under table shaping and routing, there is an alternative you may want to consider. You can get a Speed Increaser which will give you under table shaping and routing plus increase the speed to 10,000 RPM's. If you plan to upgrade to the Power Pro Headstock than you would have up to 10,000 RPM with it and the Speed Increaser would not be needed.