Shopsmith Forums

I have 1954? Mark V, Serial #266802, 3/4 hp. I have used machine off and on for 4yrs after acquiring. Would appreciate any info on maintenance, upgrades etc. I truly enjoy machine but understand that It needs maintenance. I believe it has a Gilmer drive?. Have band saw,scroll saw[breaks blades], jointer, etc. Would like to tune/maintain machine, be able to order parts, access. as well. Novice woodworker, but gives me great pleasure. Old school personality, but is machine worth any investments? Thanks for any help or links.

Looks like May or June of 1954. The machine is worth some investment and I believe that Shopsmith still has most of the parts for it. The headstock casting is a sand cast type and is usually heavier than the more modern castings.
Contact Bill Mayo through this forum as he also has some parts and also does some repairs on the older models. He especially has facilities for rebuilding the clutches on the earlier gilmer drives
Last but not least WELCOME to the family. If you have any questions at all come back here for answers.
Can you edit your profile and include your location. There may be someone close by who can help.
Bill V

Thanks for your reply. My Mark V still functions as well as I would know, looks somewhat new, not near the situation of poster Greenie55?. Although I want to pursue any/all upgrades, links to proper maintenance, etc. It's the perfect machine for me, less table extensions, scroll saw maintenance, etc. this seems to be the forum. First and formost is restoring to full and proper operation. Appreciate everyones help, Mark

Ditto on the welcome.

A 1954 'Greenie' is a Mark 5.

Essentially the same as a newer Mark V 500 except for the casting, gilmer drive(including the quill) and a few knobs etc. that are shaped differently.

Most certainly worth any effort to rehabilitate or upgrade.

Being the older "A" headstock makes proper maintenance(lubricating the gilmer drive) more of a chore.

'Scroll saw' is more likely a jig saw. Are you tensioning the blade?

Have you seen the 'sawdust sessions'.


I purposely mentioned things with minimal explanation. Tis your turn to ask for 'details' as needed.

Hi Mark! Welcome to the forum. Like JPG said we respond better to specific problem requests. We have lots of advice, most of it good. Photos help show problems. Here's a link to Sawdust sessions - http://www.shopsmithacademy.com/Sawdust_Sessions.htm

I see you live in Sherman, only about an hour outside the metroplex. We have an amazing resource in Hurst, TX - MKC Tools. Skip Campbell that runs it is also the moderator (owner?) of the Shopsmith 10ER Yahoo group. He offers repair services & parts for everything Shopsmith related. I don't know if he offers motor reversal though. He does have a nice sand/bead blast setup to clean old parts.