Shopsmith Forums

Hey everyone. In the last 3 weeks I have acquired 6 complete ss's. The serial numbers are as follows....
33918 1979
331556 1956
159303 1983
1060 1973
14903 ?
31591 1979

What is the 14903?
Are the other dates I have come up with right?
Which ones should I hang on to? The first 2 need minimal tlc. The last three were near mint. I just took their tubes out and polished between centers in one of my metal lathes. I am ordering a few new bearings here and there. I will be reconditioning the motors as well. I'm a machinist in a electric motor repairs shop, so I will completely recondition entire fleet. I don't feel that I need all 6, although I'm madly in love with these beauties... Lol, which ones should I cut loose?

I know, this is the page I used. Just wanted to make sure I was right.

MachinistCarpenter wrote:I know, this is the page I used. Just wanted to make sure I was right.

If you look at the last line of the chart you will see that from 1988 on the S/N was date of manufacture. 14903 would be 3 Sep 2014. I am not sure because my 2013 Power Pro head stock has a different format. The S/N is 2013-01-08, 8 Jan 2013. Maybe SS changed the format later. Someone here will know for sure.

Isn't 14903 in the 1973-78 range? This page may help you identify the vintage better -

http://www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/toolhistory.htm

Mike

My vote is 1973-78 range.

I agree after looking at the list more closely.

I hope you kept track of the 56 greenie bench tubes. They have a larger od.

Also the way tubes are a different steel than the bench tubes, but they being 3/4" longer keeps them identifiable.

I would put the 56 greenie at the top of the dispersal list(3/4 hp motor/gilmer drive - assuming oem).

Thanks for the input folks.

Do you feel that you would eventually have enough desire to use all six machines? If so, I'd hang onto all of them. You can always mount two headstock's on the same frame for multiple uses. You could make a shorty,etc...

Mike