Sawsmith RAS in Dallas area - good deal

heathicus · Post by **heathicus** » Mon Mar 10, 2014 5:45 pm

fredsheldon wrote:And gas was $.12 per gallon in the 50's. I paid $100 for each of the 3 10 ER's I have purchased. What did they cost new? I use my 10ER's more than my 520. I would be very happy with a $75 SS RAS and a couple of $100 10ER's. If I was short on funds, that would be the way I would have gone if I had to do it all over again.

I'll trade you a SS RAS for your 520 Power Pro!

BuckeyeDennis · Post by **BuckeyeDennis** » Mon Mar 10, 2014 5:46 pm

I am now the proud owner of a DeWalt model MBF radial arm saw.

These were built from 1956 to 1959, have a 3/4 hp motor, and retailed for $275 with the optional cabinet. A whole lot of money in those days, judging from Farmer's numbers -- way more than a good used car.

As suspected, the previous owner (a young guy) got scared of it when it tried to run out at him. Twice. Given that it's not aligned and it has a positive-rake blade on it, that's not exactly surprising.

Mechanically it seems to be in great shape. With everything locked, it feels like solid cast iron. Unlocked, everything works freely, with no discernible slop. The only problem I've found so far is that the yoke and bevel locating pins are missing their pull knobs, and may be frozen. The original owner was the PO's uncle, and I'm told that the saw has seen very little use. I certainly haven't found any sign of wear so far.

Electrically, it needs a new power cord, and the key for the key switch is missing. The PO is pretty sure that he had it, and is going to see if he can find it for me.

Should be fun.

heathicus · Post by **heathicus** » Mon Mar 10, 2014 5:47 pm

Congrats!!

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Mon Mar 10, 2014 6:05 pm

fredsheldon[B wrote:]And gas was $.12 per gallon in the 50's.[/B] I paid $100 for each of the 3 10 ER's I have purchased. What did they cost new? I use my 10ER's more than my 520. I would be very happy with a $75 SS RAS and a couple of $100 10ER's. If I was short on funds, that would be the way I would have gone if I had to do it all over again.

Not that I recall! Maybe it was cheaper in TX.

robinson46176 · Post by **robinson46176** » Mon Mar 10, 2014 6:20 pm

Congrats...
Since you got it let me say that I don't like the look of that rear fence.

It looks to be too far back and might allow blade contact when a piece to be cut is placed in position especially if it was thicker than 3/4".
My old Rockwell-Delta had a 3 piece table. About the back 6" or 8" was only used when ripping wide stuff. For cross cutting you placed the fence in front of that piece IIRC.
Have a good time.

.

BuckeyeDennis · Post by **BuckeyeDennis** » Mon Mar 10, 2014 6:55 pm

robinson46176 wrote:Congrats...
Since you got it let me say that I don't like the look of that rear fence. It looks to be too far back and might allow blade contact when a piece to be cut is placed in position especially if it was thicker than 3/4".
My old Rockwell-Delta had a 3 piece table. About the back 6" or 8" was only used when ripping wide stuff. For cross cutting you placed the fence in front of that piece IIRC.
Have a good time.

.

Yep, that table is a total POS -- it looks even worse in person. Now that you mention it, I think the PO must have whacked off both sides of it with a circular saw for ease of transport.

I've found several table designs on the web, most of which reference a design by "Mr. Sawdust". Here's a PDF of the first chapter of his book. Fascinating guy -- he was the head marketing guy for DeWalt saws after AMF acquired the company, and a Shopsmith 10ER owner as well. He went on to have a distinguished career in woodworking.

skou · Post by **skou** » Tue Mar 11, 2014 2:45 am

fredsheldon wrote:And gas was $.12 per gallon in the 50's. I paid $100 for each of the 3 10 ER's I have purchased. What did they cost new? I use my 10ER's more than my 520. I would be very happy with a $75 SS RAS and a couple of $100 10ER's. If I was short on funds, that would be the way I would have gone if I had to do it all over again.

Fred, $189.00 from Monkey Wards. I've spent MORE than the MW price, on 2 of my 4 ERs. Funny how these cast iron beasts don't depreciate like the Mark series does.

Granted, the Mk5 520 and the new Mk7 have some MASSIVELY greater capabilities, but go and (if you still can) look in the factory, and see how many (0) Mark series Shopsmiths are building the new stuff, then look how many 60+ year old ERs are doing that job. (I just counted, it's close to 70 years. I feel old!)

steve

heathicus · Post by **heathicus** » Tue Mar 11, 2014 9:16 am

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, $200 in 1950 is equivalent to roughly $2,000 ($1,941.21 to be exact) in 2014. So adjusting for inflation, those 10ERs have depreciated pretty significantly!

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Tue Mar 11, 2014 11:24 am

heathicus wrote:According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, $200 in 1950 is equivalent to roughly $2,000 ($1,941.21 to be exact) in 2014. So adjusting for inflation, those 10ERs have depreciated pretty significantly!

To say nothing of how much it would cost to manufacture them today. Where have all the foundrys gone? Thank You OSHA,EPA, etc.

robinson46176 · Post by **robinson46176** » Tue Mar 11, 2014 10:14 pm

I went looking for an on-line picture of my first RAS. I guess I failed to take any. It was a Rockwell/Delta badged as Penncrest. I bought it new at our local J. C. Penny's back about 1967 at a time that Pennys was trying to go big and carry everything. They had put up a big new store in a new local shopping center.
It was a double arm unit just like this one. I don't see the double arm units any more and I guess they don't make them now. Some guys like the double arm and some don't. About the only advantage I recall right now was that you were always working near the center of the table at about any angle instead of way off to one side. If it had any down-side I don't remember it now.

http://vintagemachinery.org/photoindex/detail.aspx?id=1498

.