Selling Shopsmith ER in Los Angeles - Need advice

[mindofsound]

Hello..
I acquired a ShopSmith ER a few years back through Craigslist. Now I'm ready to pass it along.

It's packed deep in a garage full of boxes, so I can't easily photograph it just yet, but I have attached a photo of the ShopSmith emblem specifying the model ER and serial # 37357.

I didn't realize when I bought it that it was such an old device, which has me wondering if it should be priced as an antique? It seems like the kind of tool the antique guys on American Pickers would go nuts over.

Though I haven't used it much, the device seems to be in good working order, and still has all its pieces and parts. It has a light veneer of rust on some of its parts but I figure this could be wiped off with a good metal cleaner. A good cleaning and it might look almost new!

The ShopSmith ER is mounted atop a low-standing table, which rolls on lockable wheels for easy movability.

So my question is: what is a fair price to sell this? Am I holding an antique jewel worth thousands? Or just an old heap worth whatever some sucker is willing to pay?

If anyone is interested in checking it out, making an offer, or would give me a thorough appraisal by photographs, I would be willing to accommodate. I am in Los Angeles' San Fernando Valley.

Thank you,
Josh

[JPG]

Insufficient details(of the SS).

[algale]

If you look on your local Craigslist and surrounding areas you will get a sense of what people are asking for them. Suffice it to say you do not have a priceless treasure.

[mindofsound]

Insufficient details(of the SS).

I'm happy to answer any questions you may find relevant.

[lilgodwin]

I live in Ventura, just 1-1.5hrs up the coast from you, and I've been doing a lot of looking around lately at ShopSmiths. The advertised prices vary greatly, and for no reason. I've seen them in the past month for around the 300 mark, upwards of 1300, with and without accessories/SPTs, for no rhyme or reason, some completely rusted, some clean. One guy thinks he's going to get something close to $8500(?!) for his average, though clean, setup. Unreal... a complete outlier from the others in all of SoCal. That said, ALL (every single one) of the ShopSmiths I've seen in the past month... have not sold. Except for the two I bought. I picked up an older (Goldie?) in decent shape in Santa Monica just before Christmas with the scroll saw, band saw, lathing tools, and a bunch of other odds and ends for $240. I just picked up yesterday an '88 model, in great shape, from the Frazier Park area for $280. Granted, I need to fix the switch and possibly the speed dial. It came with the jointer, and everything imaginable as far as accessories, and some small extras. I'm completely set, EXCEPT that neither came with the accessory power coupler, haha. Not a big deal.

I've looked all from Bakersfield, Santa Barbara, Ventura, Los Angeles, and San Diego. So, I hope that puts it into perspective for you. While you may see asking prices in a higher range, they're not selling. At least none of the ones I've called about and looked at have. They've sat for 2 months at least (the point where Craigslist drops the ads) You might get lucky. And you might also, as you mentioned, be able to sell it to someone who adores the more antique style equipment. But I wouldn't count on it.


EDIT: I probably should have specified that I'm speaking of the Mark V. All of my searches have yielded that model. Looks like there's currently an ER type model (I don't know how to identify them really), in Orange County for $250. Granted, asking price doesn't mean much in my experience. I'm an avid Craigslist user.

EDIT #2: I also feel I should mention that regarding the 2nd one, the newer/nicer one, he actually agreed to a price of $200 (originally asking $450 but he wasn't getting offers). After making the drive to pick it up, it was in much better shape than I thought, he needed the money, I felt bad, it was still a good deal, etc... So I ended up giving him an extra $80 for it. I just wanted to be clear than the $280 sale price is only partially accurate.

[JPG]

Insufficient details(of the SS).

I'm happy to answer any questions you may find relevant.

Enough pictures of all that is there so it can both be identified and condition determined. About all the badge reveals is the SN and in your case the manufacturing plant.

[recurvearcher]

To add to what has already been said, no it's not an antique. Nor is it particularly valuable outside the SS community.
Inside the SS community ER's have a strong following and hold value well for a machine of it's vintage.

The going market value is best determined via Craigslist. In SoCal the asking price for an ER in "Good" condition with basic accessories is usually around 150 to 200. From what I gather,that's a bit on the high side compared to other areas of the country. Condition and accessories can drive the price higher. I've seen ER's with the speed changer and a complete complement of accessories listed for 450 and above.

Just depends whats out there when you decide to sell. Today I checked and a decent looking ER is listed for 200. Another is listed for 100 without a motor. What looks to be a rusted,basket case, missing everything, is listed at 500. Usually the rusted "parts only" ER's list from 25 and up.

[oldiron]

Here in the East, The Mark V's vary widely as others have stated with regards to condition and accessories. A basic Mark V with virtually no accessories is going for $250.00-325.00 In decent(minimal rust) condition.

No, They are not priceless antiques. Even with the model 10's only being produced for such a short time, They can be found very frequently and fetch anything between $50.-200.00.

I have seen the listings which have unbelievable "Crazy" prices attached however, They will never sell. One fellow in PA. must think his rusty hunk of iron(10ER) is the last one on the planet and has a crazy price of $700.00 tagged to it. I politely informed him it would never sell for anything above $100.00 and he didn't believe me. So, Four months later, He's still asking $700.00. As the ole saying goes, Some mugs have got it and some don't!

We need to see more pictures of your machine and does it have any attachments besides the basic machine?

Mike

[JPG]

Gotta tell this:

Listed on e-bay for $10,000. Listing described it as a 'rare' vintage tool. When contacted he mentioned that CS told him that. Only thing rare was the black color! Sad to admit the lister(he was not a seller) was from over in Louisville. Dumb A city slicker!

[ERLover]

To your ER, here in Wi without a speed changer about 150-225 in fair shape, if a SC and they did there research, 225-275.
Mark V, depending on condition and SPTs are all over the board, the worst are the ones that go to SS site, look at the new prices and cut it by half, never sell, or find a sucker that did not so his home work. Usually the seller that knows the market is in the 300-800$ range depending on SPTs that come with it.