SPT’s What When and Where
Posted: Sun Jul 11, 2021 12:59 pm
I did a thread for the Model 10E and 10ER. I followed that with a thread for the Mark 5/V. So now it must be time to talk about those additional tools.
We know them now as SPT which stands for Special Purpose Tool. They have also been known as Single Purpose Tool and originally Add-a-Tool. None of these names were used for the original Shopsmith Jig Saw Model A-34 or the Magna 4” Jointer Model 4E made for the Model 10E and 10ER. Notice I referred to the Jig Saw as Shopsmith but the Jointer as Magna. The Jig Saw was an accessory specifically for use only on the Shopsmith Model 10E and 10ER and as such carried the Shopsmith name. The Jointer and other Add-a-Tools that followed carried the original company name Magna and could be used separately or in combination with other Magna Tools. The Add-a-Tools were designed to mount on the Mark 5 and special mounts were designed to allow mounting on the Model 10E and 10ER besides mounting on a separate stand with its own motor. Some later SPT’s, the Pro Planer and Scroll Saw, had a stand mount option. All other SPT’s, except the A-34 Jig Saw, could be used on separate stands that were either home built or purchased from the manufacturer. The Power Station was designed as an alternate power source for the SPT’s. Magna Line Power Tools included not only the Add-a-Tools but several additional tools including 2 table saws and other individual power tools. After Shopsmith Inc. was formed in 1972 and restarted production of the Mark 5 and SPT’s they became Shopsmith but Magna markings continued for several years on them.
It can sometimes be helpful to know who made the Shopsmith/Magna Tools over the years. Markings on the tools commonly have the company name on them. The company has changed names and changed hands over the years. Below is a list of the company names and approximate dates.
Magna Engineering Corporation 1947 - 1955
Magna Power Tool Corporation 1955 – 1958 or 1959
Yuba Power Products Inc. 1958 or 1959 - 1961
Magna American Corporation 1961 - 1967?
Shopsmith Inc. 1973 - 2009
RLF Brands (RLF Shop for a short time) 2010 – present
Magna Power Tool Corporation was the name found on tools but was part of Magna Engineering Corporation after the company split into two divisions. I am unsure of the date Magna was taken over by Yuba either late 1958 or early 1959. RLF Brands is the current maker of the Shopsmith Tool line but is still commonly referred to as Shopsmith.
Something to note while reading the information on these SPTs is there are gaps in the production dates by serial numbers as is found in the Mark 5/V data.
My plan is to post the SPTs one at a time to allow for discussion, additions and Q & A for each.
Jig Saws
The first major accessory was the Shopsmith Jig Saw Model A-34 made for the Shopsmith Model 10E and 10ER. It appears to have come out in 1950 and is first shown on the back cover of the 2nd Rev. A Model 10ER Manual. The earliest catalog I have seen that has the Jig Saw is marked DA 3-12-1050 and I believe that would be from Oct. 1950. The original Jig Saw was later changed adding some belt coverage and other modifications to the Lower Frame. All parts except the Lower Frame, Drive Housing Cover, the number of screws for the drive housing cover and the Table Insert remained the same throughout its production. Although similar in function this Jig Saw was very different from the later Magna Jig Saw Model 610 for the Mark 5. It was not designed to be used on its own and used the Model 10’s table instead of having its own.
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The Magna Jig Saw Model 610 was made from 1954 (first Serial # on Shopsmith’s records 50001, Sept. 1954) until Magna American discontinued the line in (approx.) 1967. It was the second Add-a-Tool from Magna following the Model 620 Jointer. They had “Greenie”, “Goldie” than gray paint. Back being manufactured by Shopsmith Inc. in 1973 (earliest Serial # on their record 03065 Jan. 1978) and continued past date coding December 1987. The Jig Saw is shown in the 1987 Christmas Catalog. The Jig Saw was eventually discontinued and replaced by the grey version of the Scroll Saw which was already being made. The book Power Tool Woodworking for Everyone 4th edition in chapter 16 for the Jig Saw starts with the sentence The Shopsmith Jigsaw is no longer manufactured. PTWFE 4th edition was copyrighted 1989. 1984 Catalogs show the Magna Logo Housing Cover and 1985 Catalogs show the Shopsmith Logo Housing Cover. This was one of the latest uses of the Magna Logo on an SPT. Early Model 610 Jig Saws had a serial number prefix of EX for some unknown reason which ended in November 1954.
This Jig Saw had very few changes over the years. Early Jig Saws had straight mounting posts which later changed to the eccentric mounting posts sometime between May of 1980 and July 1982. The Table went from Cast Iron to Aluminum. There may have been some internal changes to the air puffer in the base of the Upper Bracket Assembly. Near the end of their production or perhaps even after, a change to the Trunnion Bolt Assembly was made using a Socket Head Screw and Washer. This was to provide a more positive lock for the trunnion.
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We know them now as SPT which stands for Special Purpose Tool. They have also been known as Single Purpose Tool and originally Add-a-Tool. None of these names were used for the original Shopsmith Jig Saw Model A-34 or the Magna 4” Jointer Model 4E made for the Model 10E and 10ER. Notice I referred to the Jig Saw as Shopsmith but the Jointer as Magna. The Jig Saw was an accessory specifically for use only on the Shopsmith Model 10E and 10ER and as such carried the Shopsmith name. The Jointer and other Add-a-Tools that followed carried the original company name Magna and could be used separately or in combination with other Magna Tools. The Add-a-Tools were designed to mount on the Mark 5 and special mounts were designed to allow mounting on the Model 10E and 10ER besides mounting on a separate stand with its own motor. Some later SPT’s, the Pro Planer and Scroll Saw, had a stand mount option. All other SPT’s, except the A-34 Jig Saw, could be used on separate stands that were either home built or purchased from the manufacturer. The Power Station was designed as an alternate power source for the SPT’s. Magna Line Power Tools included not only the Add-a-Tools but several additional tools including 2 table saws and other individual power tools. After Shopsmith Inc. was formed in 1972 and restarted production of the Mark 5 and SPT’s they became Shopsmith but Magna markings continued for several years on them.
It can sometimes be helpful to know who made the Shopsmith/Magna Tools over the years. Markings on the tools commonly have the company name on them. The company has changed names and changed hands over the years. Below is a list of the company names and approximate dates.
Magna Engineering Corporation 1947 - 1955
Magna Power Tool Corporation 1955 – 1958 or 1959
Yuba Power Products Inc. 1958 or 1959 - 1961
Magna American Corporation 1961 - 1967?
Shopsmith Inc. 1973 - 2009
RLF Brands (RLF Shop for a short time) 2010 – present
Magna Power Tool Corporation was the name found on tools but was part of Magna Engineering Corporation after the company split into two divisions. I am unsure of the date Magna was taken over by Yuba either late 1958 or early 1959. RLF Brands is the current maker of the Shopsmith Tool line but is still commonly referred to as Shopsmith.
Something to note while reading the information on these SPTs is there are gaps in the production dates by serial numbers as is found in the Mark 5/V data.
My plan is to post the SPTs one at a time to allow for discussion, additions and Q & A for each.
Jig Saws
The first major accessory was the Shopsmith Jig Saw Model A-34 made for the Shopsmith Model 10E and 10ER. It appears to have come out in 1950 and is first shown on the back cover of the 2nd Rev. A Model 10ER Manual. The earliest catalog I have seen that has the Jig Saw is marked DA 3-12-1050 and I believe that would be from Oct. 1950. The original Jig Saw was later changed adding some belt coverage and other modifications to the Lower Frame. All parts except the Lower Frame, Drive Housing Cover, the number of screws for the drive housing cover and the Table Insert remained the same throughout its production. Although similar in function this Jig Saw was very different from the later Magna Jig Saw Model 610 for the Mark 5. It was not designed to be used on its own and used the Model 10’s table instead of having its own.
_
The Magna Jig Saw Model 610 was made from 1954 (first Serial # on Shopsmith’s records 50001, Sept. 1954) until Magna American discontinued the line in (approx.) 1967. It was the second Add-a-Tool from Magna following the Model 620 Jointer. They had “Greenie”, “Goldie” than gray paint. Back being manufactured by Shopsmith Inc. in 1973 (earliest Serial # on their record 03065 Jan. 1978) and continued past date coding December 1987. The Jig Saw is shown in the 1987 Christmas Catalog. The Jig Saw was eventually discontinued and replaced by the grey version of the Scroll Saw which was already being made. The book Power Tool Woodworking for Everyone 4th edition in chapter 16 for the Jig Saw starts with the sentence The Shopsmith Jigsaw is no longer manufactured. PTWFE 4th edition was copyrighted 1989. 1984 Catalogs show the Magna Logo Housing Cover and 1985 Catalogs show the Shopsmith Logo Housing Cover. This was one of the latest uses of the Magna Logo on an SPT. Early Model 610 Jig Saws had a serial number prefix of EX for some unknown reason which ended in November 1954.
This Jig Saw had very few changes over the years. Early Jig Saws had straight mounting posts which later changed to the eccentric mounting posts sometime between May of 1980 and July 1982. The Table went from Cast Iron to Aluminum. There may have been some internal changes to the air puffer in the base of the Upper Bracket Assembly. Near the end of their production or perhaps even after, a change to the Trunnion Bolt Assembly was made using a Socket Head Screw and Washer. This was to provide a more positive lock for the trunnion.
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