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I have learned a lot about the Mark 2 doing this restoration. Before I even began really working on parts besides some disassembly, I had purchased two Mark 2 mostly complete units and had also acquired some extra parts including an additional headstock with motor. The first Mark 2 was serial number 82268 and the second is serial number 84221. The extra Headstock is serial number 85959. These serial numbers will come into play as we go along.
Both of my Mark 2’s have the metal bench tubes and metal base frames. On the one I just finished restoring the bench tubes were bare metal and were a bit rusty while the other unit has silver painted metal bench tubes like Mark 5 Greenies. I don’t know if the paint was original from the factory which would be a change from the earlier bare metal bench tubes. Something to note is there were also Mark 2’s with wood bench rails instead of the metal tubes.
The importance of the serial numbers and why I have an extra headstock is the original headstock S/N 82268 (in the picture below) had at some point the switch replaced with a common household light switch which required making a rectangular hole and 2 screw holes. I didn’t want that for my finished restoration. This changed the finished Mark 2 to serial number 85959 although most of the other parts are from the original unit. Why is this important? If there were changes in the Mark 2 between S/N 82268 and S/N 85959 than those changes will not be reflected in my now S/N 85959 Mark 2. While working on restoring this Mark 2 I found out the Logo/Serial Number Plate on the headstock is simply glued in place so I could have switched the plates and kept the original serial number but if you look at the plate on the original headstock S/N 82268 you can see a previous owner “stamped” some numbers and letters, likely to identify it, across the top of the plate. I didn’t want that either so now it is serial number 85959 from the extra Headstock I purchased.
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Other than the headstock this first one I purchased S/N 82268 was in better condition than the second Mark 2 I purchased S/N 84221. The second one was more complete than the first one having all of it’s original parts except the miter. As I said before the Mark 2 now S/N 85959 used mostly the original parts from S/N 82268 except I replaced the missing parts which includes the Miter and Table Riser Crank Extension. I don’t believe either of these parts changed during the Mark 2’s production.
Something I have noticed when looking at Mark 2’s for sale is the parts that are included or more accurately the parts that are not included in the sale. Commonly missing are the Tailstock Assembly, Miter, Belt Cover, Table Riser Crank and especially the Crank’s Extension. The Belt Cover is fairly thin molded plastic and, if found on one, tends to be brittle. It is easily damaged and most were likely thrown away after breaking. The Tailstock Assembly is a small part that clamps on to the extension Table to hold the lathe center. Small enough to easily be misplaced. The Table Riser Crank Extension is a spacer that goes over the end of the crank and once separated from the Mark 2 could end up lost in miscellaneous parts with the Tailstock Assembly. Why the Miter is missing from many Mark 2’s for sale simply puzzles me but happens. Both Mark 2’s I purchased were missing the Miter but the second one S/N 84221 still had a Miter Safety Grip with it.
Here is some history I know about the Shopsmith Mark 2.
It was made for a short time from 1958 to 1960.
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 5 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. It is a Lathe but with a shorter length capacity. A 12” Disk Sander, Drill Press and Horizontal Boring Machine. The Mark 2 uses a ½ HP or optional ¾ HP motor while the Mark 5 had a ¾ HP motor that later changed to a 1-1/8 HP motor but after Mark 2 production ended. It uses two 2-step pulleys (a 2”/3” and a 3”/4”) to change the 7 speeds much like the Model 10E and 10ER instead of the variable speed of the Mark 5. The Way Tubes are shorter at 48” long.
An 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 newer Mark 7 Double Tilt feature. It has lower quality locks to hold the headstock, carriage, etc. in place. They work like the locks found on the Model 10’s but are made of lower quality materials and finish. 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 Mark 2’s had round metal bench tubes while others had rounded top rails 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.
The Miter looks similar but is different than the Mark 5’s as it has no angle stops and a shorter bar without the lock to hold it in place in the table slot. The Mark 2 Miter can use the Safety Grip as an option. 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. Even the table system can be changed to the Mark V or 7’s. The Mark 2 can also hold and power Add-a-tools later known as Special Purpose Tools made for the Mark 5/V’s and Mark VII/7’s. It has only one hub for powering SPT’s so different length posts may be needed for some SPT’s. It started out with the “Greenie” colors and later changed to gray.
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 legs with tubes cost $19.95 and the ½ HP motor was $34.95 making the total for a Mark 2 to be comparably equipped to the Mark 5 at $234.80 and still considerably less than the Mark 5.
The Mark 2 works more like it’s a Model 10 trying to look more like a Mark 5.
At some point it was sold with a Montgomery Wards Powr-Kraft label replacing the Shopsmith logo/serial number plate. The Powr-Kraft Mark 2 had a variable speed pulley system that works similar to the Model 10E & 10ER Speed Changer.
Back to the restoration information.
Some of the things I learned restoring this Mark 2 is they truly were a low-cost alternative to the Mark 5. As an example, the rip fence casting is very thin at 3/32” thick for the face and can be easily bent. The thickness for the face on a Mark 5 or V 500 fence is 1/8”. Both fences I have from the two Mark 2’s I bought have fence damage. One had wood blocks inserted in the underside to keep the face straight and not bending inward. The other has a crack in the face and both, oddly enough, have a broken off piece of the casting in the same place. One was missing parts for the locking mechanism. The Belt Cover could have been sturdier with a thicker casting than the 3/32” plastic walls used. This would likely have made them less susceptible to damage and still fit with the extra thickness going to the outside dimensions.
I added a pair of retractable casters which helps with a problem on the bench legs. Adding something to the legs near the bottom helps keep them from spreading outward. Something I had seen in both Mark 2’s I purchased. The retractable casters for the Mark 2 use the same parts as the ones for the Mark 5 except the Drive Rod which the cams & foot pedal wheel mounts to and Tie Rod are about 2” shorter. Anyone not finding the retractable casters to add to their Mark 2 might consider adding a cross brace between the legs near the bottom front to back on each end. A pair of Mark 5 retractable casters could be modified by drilling new holes in the end of the tie rod and drive rod 2” in from the existing holes for the bracket and cam and cutting off the excess 2” of the rods.
Right now, my second Mark 2 S/N 84221 is disassembled and stored. It was not in as good of condition as the other one. The carriage has a crack around one of the table post holes. The fence rail for the main table is bent and the fence is missing parts. This has left me with the decision of what to do to remedy this. Since it is difficult to find Mark 2 parts for sale, I am currently considering using a Mark 5/V 500 table system on it that I have. The good news is the Headstock and Table systems of the Mark 2 and Mark 5 are interchangeable. The Mark 2 can use the Mark 5 tailstock and may be included in this modified Mark 2. Another problem with it is the belt cover having more damage than the other one I have and will take a lot of “plastic” work to fix it if I am even able too since it is very brittle. This Mark 2 will be sold after restoration so I want to try to keep costs down but I still expect to be in the red when it is sold. Oh well hobbies do cost money but for most of my restorations I am able to break even or sometimes better.
