Shopsmith Forums

I first saw this 1955 Shopsmith Mark 5 seventeen years ago, it was given to me about a week ago, and I put it into service in my shop a couple of days ago. This SS belonged to my neighbor when I moved home to MO in 2000. My neighbor was a great guy, had to be about eighty when I showed up--we suffered thru many a Royal's game back then and shared a fondness for Busch beer. He was a mechanic and a very good one. He never mentioned an interest in woodworking. We had identical Swisher Ride King mowers (possibly a midwest thing) and we serviced them together. We worked on the mowers out of his basement and that is where I first saw this SS, I knew what it was but never got around to asking him about it. As his health declined his family moved him closer to them up in Kansas City. As my parents health declined I moved in with them to help with their care and eventually took over my Dad's small custom cabinet shop. My neighbor passed away a few years ago but it was only recently that his family did anything with his property. A local antique shop bought everything that remained in the house including the SS. I'm friendly with the owners of the antique shop and I put two and two together and realized the SS was my neighbors. They couldn't give it away--the motor housing was detached with the motor hanging there, the switch was partially removed, the speed dial cover was off, and the cord crumbled in your hands. They finally asked me if I would take it. I said yes. The one tool that we don't have in our shop is a lathe. All of the original accessories were there along with the Magna 18" jigsaw and the Magna 4" joiner. Frankly, I'm a little obsessed with this thing, the history, the cleverness, the usefullness. I haven't even got to the lathe yet, I have it set up in drill press mode. It has been cleaned and lubricated, replaced the cord and some insulation on the motor wires, reattached the switch (with the help of a good friend who did most of the work). It fired right up--built in 1955, original AO Smith 3/4 hp motor--the bearings sound good. I think that is amazing, a 62 year old machine. The speed dial may be a work in progress, it seems to work as it should it's just not calibrated and there are missing teeth on the dial cover. I can't seem to figure out where to put the oil in the jigsaw. Didn't mean to ramble so.
Joe in Central MO

Welcome to the forum Joe. These are great little machines. No small cabinet shop should be without one or two.

There is a plug under the name plate on the back side. #10 machine oil. There is a very small air bleed hole on the side. Be sure to clear that. BTW, these things like to leak oil. There is a machinist on E bay that rebuilds the speed control dial for about $20. Better than new!!! He swaps yours for a rebuilt one unless you request yours back.

Welcome to the madness!!

A really neat story ,, you should document the history some how just for you and your family .

In case you have to remove the back cover on the scroll saw ,,,,you can make a oil gasket from thin cork material or a card board shoe box and a dab of rtv sealer ,, I make one and it is holding great several years later.

My'n kept leaking oil when I set it on the floor ,, I didn't know there was a vent hole ,, I thought there was something wrong with it and removed the inspection cover ,,then found out about the vent .

Also there are 2 fill screws ,one lower then the other, you fill it with the lower hole and when it runs out the top hole it is full.

Don't over fill or it will leak for sure.
Your machine will bring you years of use . .

Hopefully the fellow got to see the Royals win the Series in 2015.

Great story on how you came to have it and the sentimental value.