Shopping For ER10

[fjimp]

Today I called on an add for a 10ER. The fellow couldn't brag enough on it. He was close by so we drove over to see it. His ad included;
"Antique 1947 ShopSmith Model 1OER with attachments. Still works beautifully. This Sweet Machine is 1 of the Original 10 Prototypes that ShopSmith had manufactured by another Company for a Promotional Demonstration Exhibit at Montgomery Wards when ShopSmith launched their Company in 1947, Asking $300 and Considering all Offers"
I guess I wasn't surprised to see it sitting uncovered on his driveway with many treasures piled around it. The basic machine was grossly incomplete. Even the base was missing. Condition wise I would give it a Poor. I was truly surprised. I felt sorry for the fellow who clearly is in poor health and forced to move. thus made a low ball offer. I felt good to leave it there. Jim

[skou]

Jim, how incomplete was the base? My first ER had the hand made base. In fact, the only factory bases I've seen, are the ones I bought for me, and for my baby brother's, ERs.

In the early days, you were supposed to build your own. Hans did supply instructions, using the ER sitting on the ground, way back then.

From the rest of your discription, I'd offer less than $100. I'd also drop the belt(s) and try spinning the headstock by hand. (If it has 2 belts, my offer would almost double.)

Keep looking for the ER, just find a good (or restorable) one. They're WELL worth the price of admission!

steve

[dgale]

I've paid $50 and $100 respectively for my two 10E's, both of which were in good functional condition with relatively little rust when I bought them...so that's where my bar is, realistic or not. At this point something in rough condition would have to be free for me to want to deal with the repairs and restoration, unless it had a speed changer and/or other less common accessories, in which case I might give them $50-$100 depending on what it had. The problem is often folks have a rather unrealistic expectation of reasonable selling price and when we are too far apart at the beginning, it's probably not worth trying to haggle.

[JPG]

This is the way a 10E came.

[ATTACH]20118[/ATTACH]


Two way tubes - no bench/base.

[fjimp]

The ER I looked at was sitting on driveway with the motor being only support. No drill chuck, saw or lathe parts. The lower pulley was bent. The handles for tightening the drill/saw arbor had been cheaply replaced. The arbor was extended and did not appear to be retractable. Granted in my current condition I didn't even attempt to mess with it. I asked the owner if it would retract and got a funny look and weak attempt to shove it into place. I have no interest in that particular unit. I really need to complete my recovery before shopping again. Jim

[backhertz]

I bought one from an original owner. He told me that even the motor an optional item & a person could buy a 10E/ER without a motor.

[donalexander]

I've paid $50 and $100 respectively for my two 10E's, both of which were in good functional condition with relatively little rust when I bought them...so that's where my bar is, realistic or not. At this point something in rough condition would have to be free for me to want to deal with the repairs and restoration, unless it had a speed changer and/or other less common accessories, in which case I might give them $50-$100 depending on what it had. The problem is often folks have a rather unrealistic expectation of reasonable selling price and when we are too far apart at the beginning, it's probably not worth trying to haggle.

Your comments are spot on. I see four to six 10ERs on Craigslist every year in Richmond, VA. Condition varies from fair to very poor and prices are usually $150 to $300 and occasionally more. It took me a year or more of looking but I found one that was nearly complete, the motor runs, it had just a little rust but lots of neglect. The asking price had dropped to $150 and I offered $60 and she took it so fast I wondered if I should have offered less.

I've disassembled the unit and am cleaning it thoroughly, inspecting every inch of it, and so far I've found 2 missing pieces - the saw guard and one bolt. Both can be made or purchased. I'd planned to do a complete restoration but the unit is in such good shape, I think I can live with 62 years old paint that is in remarkable good but far from perfect shape.

My point is, lightly used, long ignored 10ERs are out there to be had at bargain prices, if you look. eBay seems to be a wasteland of bargains. Craigslist is where they seem to be - and sometimes it pays to watch for a while. There isn't much market for 10ERs, as near as I can tell. After a unit has been advertised for 6 weeks or so, advertisers that actually want to sell, become more motivated.

[heathicus]

I agree with dgale. The $50 to $100 range is what I'd be willing to pay as well depending on condition and accessories included. Although I seldom see any on CL in my immediate area. I'd have to go several hours away to Baton Rouge or New Orleans or even Houston to find any listings.

None of my three 10ERs included the factory legs. Two were on hand made benches (neither following the plans that were included with the original shipments). At this point, a set of those legs or another speed changer (or some other rare accessory like the Mark 5 SPT adapter) would have to be included for me to even be interested at anything above $50.

This Sweet Machine is 1 of the Original 10 Prototypes that ShopSmith had manufactured by another Company

That has me intrigued. Is he sure about that? What makes him think it was a prototype? How does it differ? Who made the prototypes? Or is "Magna Engineering" on the logo/serial number plate confusing him? Or does I don't suppose you took any pictures or could go back and take some pictures, could you?