Shopsmith Forums

Asking $350. Just don't use it anymore. For its age its in pretty good shape. Have multiple attachment to go with it. 270-804-6451

Looks like a 10ER.

The plate says 10E and if I am seeing it correctly the serial number is R-29733. Model 10E's with the R- prefix went into the 30,000 for serial numbers. It also has early Model 10 parts like the belt cover and the crank for the Table Riser. The extension table on the shelf is the metal one and the fence is the second version for it. The change from wood to metal extension tables had already occurred by that serial number. The Jig Saw is the early version. It looks like the Jointer-Shaper Fence has the wood fence instead of the cast aluminum ones. Being accessories the Jig Saw and Jointer-Shaper Fence could have been purchased anytime, even used. I cannot see enough of the headstock in the pictures to tell which version it is. If I am reading the S/N correctly it is likely version 4. Version 4 is the headstock version being made when the change from the Model 10E to 10ER occurred. Shopsmith's made in the eastern plant have lower serial numbers at the time of the change from 10E to 10ER starting in the 18,000.

ER miter gauge, ER trunion, ER aux table, ER rip fence.

JPG,

You said

ER miter gauge, ER trunion, ER aux table, ER rip fence.

The Miter Gauge and Trunnion changed before they were 10ER's and before the change from the wood extension table. The change from the Wood Extension Table and the Rip Fence that included a rear lock came at the same time and before the change from 10E to 10ER. There was an upgrade special for owner's of the early Model 10E to the Metal Extension Table and it's Fence. It was the Special Conversion Kit for the Tailstock-Extension Table with a special price until October 1, 1949 of $17.50. Many of the older Model 10E tools with the Wood Extension Table and Fence without a rear lock may have been upgraded with this kit. Another item in that ad to bring your Shopsmith up-to-date was for the new Miter Gauge Assembly with automatic spring stops. One 10E I purchased and restored had parts of both the wood and metal extension tables still with it.

chapmanruss wrote:JPG,

You said

ER miter gauge, ER trunion, ER aux table, ER rip fence.

The Miter Gauge and Trunnion changed before they were 10ER's and before the change from the wood extension table. The change from the Wood Extension Table and the Rip Fence that included a rear lock came at the same time and before the change from 10E to 10ER. There was an upgrade special for owner's of the early Model 10E to the Metal Extension Table and it's Fence. It was the Special Conversion Kit for the Tailstock-Extension Table with a special price until October 1, 1949 of $17.50. Many of the older Model 10E tools with the Wood Extension Table and Fence without a rear lock may have been upgraded with this kit. Another item in that ad to bring your Shopsmith up-to-date was for the new Miter Gauge Assembly with automatic spring stops. One 10E I purchased and restored had parts of both the wood and metal extension tables still with it.

Going by Skip Campbell's document. the 10ER was introduced in late 1948

Nov 8, 1947
Magna 10E Shopsmith introduced at Montgomery ward stores nation wide and in their catalog.
4 bolt cast iron headrest changed to aluminum mid 48.
aluminum extension table bracket held by two studs w/wing nuts
wooden extension table top
flip out stop on table trunnion
no table elevation until optional accessory came out

Late 1948
10ER introduced with revised:
table trunnion with spring loaded detent lever
tailstock with table bracket groove
cast iron extension table bracket w/ aluminum ext. table
chrome quill spring housing and depth gage
redesigned rip fence with rear lock
redesigned miter gauge w/detents and clamp mount hole
table raiser arm and crank
redesigned belt/pulley guard (flat top for more clearance)

1949
Jigsaw and other accessories added
no machine changes that I can tell.

Oct. 1950
no machine changes that I can tell

Jan, 1951
vertical lock knob, from alum. knob to steel (101-12x to 101-10?)
tailstock lock knob, from alum knob to steel w/hex (pic chg, same #)
two bolt headrest cast iron

April 1951:
Solid saw guard
redesigned sanding disc
knurled hubs, quill pinion shaft
pivot base footprint change
raiser crank? part number change (103-40x to 103-39x)
tool rest arm, set screw moved inline with arm
vertical lock screw, part number change (101-12x to 101-10)
tailstock locking knob, part # chg. same pic (104-7RX to 104-9)

Feb 1952
One piece wedge locks
Long slot in ext. table bracket

Sept 1952
hollow table support tubes

Feb 1953
thin way tubes (Mark V style)

This is my R23430, even though the logo plate still says 10E, it does have the chrome quill spring cover and the other updates that would indicate it is a 10ER.

What is the difference between a Shopsmith Model 10E and a 10ER? For that answer I look at the Logo/Serial Number Plate. If it says 10E it is a 10E. If it says ER or 10ER it is a 10ER. That is how I define them. I won’t go into the discussion of ER vs 10ER here.

The Model 10’s continued as a work in progress during their entire production. There were many changes made to them from their introduction in 1947 to the end of production in 1953. I do not know the sources of all the information Skip has or why a Shopsmith with Model 10E on the Logo/Serial Number Plate is then actually a Model 10ER. Skip is very knowledgeable on everything having to do with Shopsmith Model 10’s. I believe he has good information to share with us. I do not know what change or changes were made that defined them as a Model 10ER even when the Logo/Serial Number Plate still said 10E. In the list he originally compiled with information from Shopsmith Model 10 owners it has very limited information on purchase dates or even years. The list I have compiled has the same limited purchase date information.

It is widely believed that the E and ER prefixes in the serial numbers means they were made in the Eastern Plant. Is it the change from E to ER in the prefix that is supposed to make it a Model 10ER instead of a Model 10E as the Logo/Serial Number Plate on it says? If so, why is there only the R prefix for the Western Plant. That would make Model 10ER available much earlier from the Eastern Plant than from the Western Plant. The serial numbers on the tools appear to be produced at different dates and produced at different rates between the two plants as shown by the information I have gathered. The prefixes of E, ER and R support them being made at the respective plants and most E and ER prefix serial numbers are still found in the Eastern United States and the R prefix serial numbers are still mostly in the Western United States. I believe each plant used their own set of serial numbers with their respective prefixes. I have pictures of two Logo/Serial Number Plates with serial number 41009, one with the R prefix and the other with the ER prefix.

In my post above I referenced the ad Special Conversion Kit for the Tailstock-Extension Table which only has a date of when the special price ends. We know that the change from the wood extension table to the metal table and their related parts occurred before October 1949 but how long before. It may very well have happened in late 1948 as Skip lists in the materials Ron posted. Back then a business relied on the mail service to let customers know of such things. No internet back then. It is possible the special price was available for many months.

A document I find interesting is the Shopsmith Sales History from the Book titled "How to Write a Winning Business Report" By Joseph Mancuso. In it is the listing of sales by fiscal year for the Different Shopsmith Tools. It only lists the Model 10ER and not the 10E. Beginning in fiscal year 1949-1950 to 1953-1954 it has the total sales by fiscal year for the 10ER. Why is the Model 10E not listed and what about Fiscal years 1947-1948 and 1948-1949? We know the first 250 Model 10E’s were built and ready to ship on November 15, 1947 to the West Coast Montgomery Ward Stores. Some sources have that date as October not November but documents Everett has confirmed the November date. Did John Folkerth simply skip the Model 10E information when producing this document when seeking financing to start Shopsmith Inc. Does this document give us a clue as to when the Model 10E changed to the 10ER?

To an extent we all have opinions as to how all this information we know and what we don’t know fits together. It is hard to fill in the blanks and that is where differing opinions arise. Hopefully more information will become available. This is my opinion on the Model 10E and 10ER.

Finally, I would recommend that if we wish to continue this discussion that we move it to a more appropriately titled thread.