Sawsmith RAS - Through The Years
While there were a few more years to
Sawsmith RAS (not to be confused with the later
Sawsmith 2000 table saw) history than the previously mentioned
SHOPSMITH Mark 2, I'm still going to use the two distinct manufacturers to distinguish the early and later history of this product through some artifacts. Of course those two manufacturers were
Yuba Power Products and
Magna American Corporation. And while it's likely a safe bet that the early development of the Sawsmith RAS was initiated by Magna Power Tool Corporation (before their acquisition by Yuba Consolidated Industries), for this narrative, we'll stick with Yuba and Magna American...
There's already a distinction in the glossy brochure that was produced by each manufacturer
.
- IMG_4801.jpeg (918.79 KiB) Viewed 19258 times
.
The Yuba brochure focuses on standard radial arm saw application, while the Magna American brochure interestingly refers to the Sawsmith as a "Radial Arm Shop" - as they believed they were providing more than a mere RAS with their SAWSMITH incarnation.
They continue that theme on the inside, focusing on the Add-A-Tool functionality that would permit use of most SPTs on the Sawsmith, while the Yuba marketing team focused on the quintessential 1950s suburban family experience (complete with doting wife) and the terrifyingly finger-severing, upside-down table saw application!
.
- IMG_4808.jpeg (951.62 KiB) Viewed 19258 times
- IMG_4807.jpeg (1 MiB) Viewed 19258 times
.
The Owner's Manuals had a pretty consistent look and feel. I did note that both on the Manual and brochure covers, the Yuba system showed a vented saw guard, much like earliest SHOPSMITH Model 10ER machines. Not sure when this was changed to a solid saw guard (retaining the vented "look"), but I have both a Goldie Yuba model and a later grey Magna American model, and neither has a vented saw guard.
.
- IMG_4802.jpeg (870.1 KiB) Viewed 19258 times
.
Inside, the two Manuals vary a bit. Magna American focused a bit more on assembly of the system (not sure how these were respectively delivered to customers at those times), while Yuba included a nice diagram of the machine and the nomenclature of its components. Instructions on
how to use the machine were pretty much the same in both Manuals.
.
- IMG_4803.jpeg (1.14 MiB) Viewed 19258 times
- IMG_4804.jpeg (929.24 KiB) Viewed 19258 times
- IMG_4805.jpeg (1019.93 KiB) Viewed 19258 times
.
...and certainly there are parts of these manuals that don't quite hold up any more. While the "Vari-Speed" speed controller was described as making "speed selection as easy as dialing a phone", I can state conclusively that saying, "Hey Siri, please increase speed to 6400 RPMs" does not do a damned thing!
.
- IMG_4806.jpeg (498.29 KiB) Viewed 19258 times
.
So, I wrap up with some price lists. Pricing went up a bit on the basic machine over the span of a couple of years (and yes, these machines really do weigh nearly 200 lbs!), but those SPTs that are featured in the Magna American price list had extraordinarily consistent pricing for their entire history up to that time - the bandsaw was still $79.95 as it had been since its introduction 5+ years earlier. Magna American understandably offered a larger accessories list, as they were providing both the SPTs and the necessary interface accessories to jury rig those SPTs to the Sawsmith.
.
- IMG_4809.jpeg (917.89 KiB) Viewed 19258 times
.
Once I finish my Sawsmith restoration, I'm going to break out those accessories and connect a few SPTs, if for no other reason than the novelty of it!
