Shopsmith Forums

So after reading up on the topic here I took a chance and brought home a $100 Mark VII. The main machine is mostly all there. All of the knobs and levers are intact. Seems to be missing about 6 inches of the gear track but I will give the Delta replacement part. When I pulled the access panel off I was thrilled to see a perfect cam. From the pictures in the ad I thought the DCS was missing but it was actually there and when I turned the unit on was blowing strong. Only really bad part is it seems to have an issue with reverse (only hums).

Yes it is confusing since they are labeled both Mark VII and Mark 7, however they are Mark VIIs.

Re: reverse, the switch is the likely culprit. It has sliding contacts that do not make contact.

Re: rack, it does not go all the way across the front way tube. It should allow 'cranking' to the extreme range of the headstock.

Re" delta replacement, that has not happened yet(at least not to me). That may not be a solution after all.

Once you acquire ability to 'reverse', you will 'discover' reasons to use it.

I plan to clean it up a bit and go through the headstock but this will be a working unit. I do a lot of props for a local convention and this thing will give me more capability than I had before in half the space. Any and all suggestions (expect get a boat and a chain and use it to anchor the boat) will be appreciated).
I grew up with my dad using my grandfathers Shopsmith, which might have been a 10er, and he made some great things with that old beast.