Shopsmith Forums

Hi, First time on, need some information. Will a Mark V tailstock fit a Mark 2. I was told that Montgomery Ward originally made this Mark2.

Hi and welcome to the forum.

The Mark V tailstock will fit on the Mark 2. I have a Mark 2 and have tried it. Montgomery Ward did not make the Mark 2, it was made at their request by the same manufacturers of the Mark 5.

Here is some information I have gathered on the Mark 2.

Shopsmith Mark 2, 1958 to 1960 5-in-1 tool

Introduced in December of 1957 by Magna Power Tool Corporation. This unit was made at Montgomery Ward’s request and sold primarily by them. It was not made to the same quality standards as the Mark V and was a lower cost alternative while still providing the same five functions. It has an 8” saw blade capacity instead of the 9” saw blade of the Mark 5 at the time. The Mark 2 uses a ½ HP motor while the Mark 5 had a ¾ HP motor that later changed to a 1-1/8 HP motor. It uses two 2-step pulleys to change the 7 speeds (much like the Model 10E and 10ER) instead of the variable speed of the Mark 5. It has lower quality locks to hold the headstock, carriage, etc. in place. It has an extra saw blade slot on the main table (a feature added to the Mark 5 in the 1960’s and 1970’s). Some have round metal bench tubes while others have what looks like rounded top “C” channels made out of wood to connect the bench ends and legs together. It could be purchased with or without the bench. Instructions included making your own wood bench. It has a narrow step shape extension table that creates its own fence and serves as the tailstock with a small block attachment. There are very few individual parts that are interchangeable with the Mark 5. The Mark 5 Headstock will fit on the Mark 2 frame. The Mark 2 can also hold and power SPT’s (Special Purpose Tools) made for the Mark 5/V’s and Mark VII/7’s. Even the table system can be changed to the Mark V or 7’s.

At the time of its introduction the Mark 2 was priced at $179.90 (less bench and motor) compared to the Mark 5 at $329.50. The Bench with tubes costs $19.95 and the ½ HP motor was $34.95 making the total for a Mark 2 to be comparable to the Mark 5 at $234.80 and still considerably less than the Mark 5.

Another interesting feature of the Mark 2 is the Headrest which is a pin-able version of the Base and Arm which functions much like the new Mark 7 Double Tilt feature. The Mark 2 works like it’s a Model 10 trying to look like a Mark 5.

Thank you so much, it is well appreciated and the information of the Mark 2.
Thanks again.

If you have any other questions just ask. We also like to see pictures of projects, tool restorations or sometimes just to help describe what is being asked about.

Can you confirm weather the Mark V tailstock will fit on the Mark 2. I'm trying to upgrade the lathe accessories to a Nova G3 chuck system and want to add a "live center" (tapered) at the other end to fit into a tailstock. I've been told both that the Mark V tailstock will and won't fit. Do you know if it will fit the Mark 2. Thanks.

Here is confirmation. In the picture below is my Mark 2 (which is awaiting restoration) with the tailstock from my 2001 Mark V 520. As you can see the Mark 5/V tailstock will work on the Mark 2. All Mark 5/V tailstocks are the same from the Greenie's to today. Even the new Mark 7 uses the same tailstock. The use of the tailstock block that attaches to the extension table for the Mark 2 was one of the cost saving designs used to bring the price down.
Using the Mark 2 for a lathe has an advantage over the Mark V. Since it uses changeable pulleys getting larger pulleys that will fit on the drive spindle will reduce the speed. See the chart in the PDF attached for pulley speeds.
The disadvantage of using the Mark 2 for a lathe is it's lighter weight.

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Hugely helpful and quick reply. Thank you so much.