Shopsmith Forums

Which model is this and how old is it? Pics attached. Thanks in advance. (Sorry preview shows all pics upside down, not sure why)

I'm still new to SS stuff.

This is a Greenie? 1953-60?

If you post a picture of the serial number plate on the back of the Headstock ,
It will help identify the year.

Here is a Flip for you.

Thanks, the label is gone

CWTH wrote: Sat Sep 07, 2024 11:26 pm Thanks, the label is gone

Does this plate at the blue arrow have a number?

OH WOW! A greenie with three age correct SPT's/shaper fence. And something else I cannot identify(too much hidden - guessing lathe tool rest?).

Be on the lookout for the round jig saw table insert.

Large c-clamp on top of jointer blade guard?

The SN is stamped into that vent plate.

1953 - 60ish is correct(maybe 1962?). Actually an "A" headstock so nearer to 1953

Is that in an attic or a storage shed?

P.S. Stains on floor recent, water/oil/?

CWTH,

Welcome to the Shopsmith Forum.

It is a Mark 5 made/sold in either 1954 or the first half of 1955. Some Mark 5 units may have been made in late 1953 in anticipation of the introduction of the Mark 5 in March of 1954. Yours has the "A" Headstock which was replaced in late 1955 by the "B" Headstock, one of those is shown below. Around mid 1955 the number of screws used to hold the Belt Cover on the Headstock changed from 8 to 6. Until 1985 there was only 1 model of the Mark V which had the original Table System. When the Mark V 510/505 was introduced in 1985 the original Table System became the 500. It is the Table System that primarily defines the model a Mark V is. The Mark V 520S is the exception and is different than the Mark V 520.

The missing label next to the power switch is a warning label telling users NOT TO TURN THE SPEED DIAL WITHOUT THE MOTOR RUNNING. Doing so without the internal parts turning will damage the Speed Control Assembly. You can see the Warning Label on the Headstock shown below.

- .
The Serial number is on the Vent Plate GetterDone indicated. That will better tell us when your Shopsmith Mark 5 was made. The Jointer, Jig Saw and Belt Sander have serial number plates too that will tell when they were made. Your Jointer is an earlier one also. The Jointer was introduced with the Mark 5 and was a redesign of the Base/Outfeed Table from the Model 4E Jointer made for the Shopsmith Model 10E and 10ER. The Jig Saw was introduced later in 1954. The Belt Sander was introduced in 1955.

There is some good news for you as some replacement parts can be found new from Shopsmith while others can be found on the used market. This makes it relatively easy to get anything needed to fully restore or make it functional.