Shopsmith Mark 5 What When and Where

[chapmanruss]

I wondered about that too. I would be interesting to see the letter.

[chapmanruss]

On page 8 in my post dated 24 Jan 2022 I talked about the Cast Irom Extension Table I have. Recently there was a discussion here on the Forum about Shopsmith Clones and the differences they have compared to an actual Mark 5/V. This got me thinking about the odd cast iron “Shopsmith” Extension Table. Could it be from one of the clones? In looking at pictures of clones one possibility stands out. Yes, I have pictures I save of tools I like as possible references. Below is a WoodMaster clone and the Extension Table appears to be cast iron. Could this be the actual source of a cast iron Extension Table?

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WoodMaster Multi Tool Woodinville WA 2 c.jpg (126.2 KiB) Viewed 1105 times

[jpdalton]

Could this be the actual source of a cast iron Extension Table?

Whether it is or not, the picture certainly tells us one of the reasons aluminum tables are favored over those made of ferrous materials!

[chapmanruss]

Today I am back on the subject of the Goldie Mark 5 with the C suffix for the serial numbers discussed on page 9. Why you may ask. Well Saturday I bought one and can do some comparisons myself which may add to the information we discovered with John’s Mark 5 Goldie serial number 369904C. Mine is serial number 370596C and the Vent/Serial Number Plate is shown below. When the Gilmer Drive changed to Poly V Drive the Serial numbers above 371347 are Poly V and began in May 1961. This means there were at least 1443 “C” units made going by John’s serial number and the serial number at the change.

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370596C.jpg (355.19 KiB) Viewed 886 times

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John’s Mark 5 Goldie was made in March of 1961 and mine was made in April 1961. The first thing I notice when looking at the Vent/Serial Number Plate of mine compared to John’s is his lists a ¾ HP Motor while Mine lists a 1-1/8 HP Motor which by the way is an A. O. Smith 1-1/8 HP Motor. This puts the change from the ¾ HP Motor to the 1-1/8 HP Motor between March and April of 1961.

In my post on page 9 I said

So why was it necessary to shorten the outer sleeve of the “special” Quill?

I believe I now know the answer. Because the Drive Sleeve Assembly is using a Drive similar to the one on the Poly V Drive but is held on with screws the shorter Quill outer sleeve is to clear those screws as seen in the picture below. Even with the shorter outer sleeve the Quill can extend the same length as other Mark 5/V’s.

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Quill and Drive Sleeve - M5 C.jpg (113.83 KiB) Viewed 886 times

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I did compare side by side the Drive used on this “special” C Drive Sleeve Assembly with the one from a Mark 2. They do indeed look the same but are not interchangeable. The shaft on the Mark 5 C Drive Sleeve Assembly’s outer diameter is smaller than that of the Mark 2. In the pictures below the two are side by side with the Mark 5 one on the left and the Mark 2 one on the right. From the Quill end in the top picture they look the same but in the bottom picture you can see the difference in the diameter.

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Drives - Quill End - M5 - M2.jpg (166.79 KiB) Viewed 886 times

Drives - Sleeve End - M5 - M2.jpg (124.12 KiB) Viewed 886 times

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Sorry these parts do need some cleanup work as part of their restorations.

[jpdalton]

1959 The nylon cap was added to the drive sleeve to reduce noise. (Note: this change 1st shows up in the 10:56 Manual and is not in the 10:55 Manual)

Russ - you know much I love minutia of this sort in the history of the Shopsmith! Well, my efforts to restore Serial Number 298187 should provide you another point of reference on the above topic.

So, my prior experience restoring Greenies is with the earliest models (1954 and “pre-1954”). But when I pulled apart this machine (dated approximately June 1955), I saw a nylon collar on the drive sleeve that has only been attributed to later models:
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IMG_3631.jpeg (584.58 KiB) Viewed 555 times

And since you mentioned the appearance of this innovation in the later manuals, I next went back to the archives to see if there was any reference to this feature in the printing of the manual targeted for this manufacturing date. Sure enough, in the 4:55 printing, there it is…
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IMG_3633.jpeg (518.53 KiB) Viewed 555 times

IMG_3634.jpeg (542.42 KiB) Viewed 555 times

Surprisingly, the feature disappears in some subsequent manuals (8:55 and 10:55 printings), only to reappear in the 10:56 printing as you mentioned above, albeit drawn in a different location and with a different part reference number.
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IMG_3632.jpeg (626.43 KiB) Viewed 555 times

IMG_3636.jpeg (240.2 KiB) Viewed 555 times

I wonder if any early ‘56 model owners could confirm the disappearance of the nylon collar on any of that vintage of machine…

[chapmanruss]

John,

Thanks for the correction. I must have been going backwards when I found the nylon collar in the 10:56 Manual but not in the 10:55 Manual and stopped there.

Hopefully others can answer the question did the nylon collar appear then was discontinued only to be included later or was it an error not being shown in the 8:55 and 10:55 Manuals.

John,

You pointed out another error as the nylon collar is A3408 in the exploded view but is B3408 in the parts list. That changed in the next Parts List & Exploded View when the letters preceding the part numbers were dropped.

[jpdalton]

the nylon collar is A3408 in the exploded view but is B3408 in the parts list.

…actually, it’s B3408 in the older (4:55) manual, and A3408 in the newer (10:56) manual. Parts list and exploded view are consistent within each printing.

[chapmanruss]

Below is page 26 of the 10:56 Owner's Guide. The nylon collar is A3408 in the exploded view but is B3408 in the parts list. That is what I was referring to.

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Sm Page 26 r.jpg (188.45 KiB) Viewed 446 times

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Note in the close up below it is A3408

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Sm section Page 26.JPG (187.77 KiB) Viewed 446 times