New old SS - unsure of year

[rstl99]

Hi again all.
My $75 SS restoration project is on hold waiting for parts to put it back together again.

Someone else has offered to sell me a SS Mark V. Says he hasn't used it in a few years because he has access to dedicated woodworking tools where he now lives, but says it works fine, tubes are good, has manuals and most of the original parts (missing the lathe head however).

Price is right ($250). I figure it can provide parts for my other one (or vice versa). And if nothing else, a source of spare parts. Maybe I could have one at home and another at the cottage. What do you think, worth picking up?

The serial number is 6 digits starting with 555, which I can't figure out from the serial number page what year that might be. He figures it's about 20 years old (could be older though, who knows.). Any idea what year that might be? He says his manual refers to 1 1/8hp motor, same as mine.

Cheers!

[mbcabinetmaker]

My guess is March or April 1980, but that is only 5 digits. http://shopsmith.com/ownersite/faq/markv.htm

[rstl99]

Thanks, I hadn't seen that list of numbers.

Actually, in re-reading the guy's email, the number he quoted is actually the MODEL number (555xxx), not the serial number. I hadn't realized that SS model numbers changed a lot over the years.

[JPG]

1) Sure 555xxx is a serial #

2) Does it have a 'date code' instead

3) What color/texture is it?

4) I doubt #3 is anything but gray.


IIRC at one time the date codes were on a separate 'tag' below the vent disk and the model # preceded by SS was on the disk. Some were SS followed by serial number.

your post#3 went up after I typed this, but b4 I submitted it. They did not change much - 555 means it is a Mark V model 505 (methinks). I believe it was then the part #.

[rstl99]

I'll probably try to go look at it this weekend and size up its age by the look and colour scheme, as suggested. Having taken one apart gives me a better appreciation of what to look for in a used one!
Cheers.

[bucksaw]

Hi again all.
My $75 SS restoration project is on hold waiting for parts to put it back together again.

Someone else has offered to sell me a SS Mark V. Says he hasn't used it in a few years because he has access to dedicated woodworking tools where he now lives, but says it works fine, tubes are good, has manuals and most of the original parts (missing the lathe head however).

Price is right ($250). I figure it can provide parts for my other one (or vice versa). And if nothing else, a source of spare parts. Maybe I could have one at home and another at the cottage. What do you think, worth picking up?

The serial number is 6 digits starting with 555, which I can't figure out from the serial number page what year that might be. He figures it's about 20 years old (could be older though, who knows.). Any idea what year that might be? He says his manual refers to 1 1/8hp motor, same as mine.

Cheers!

Can't have too many Shopsmiths if you have the room. I have 3.

[a1gutterman]

Nothing wrong with $250. Pick it up.

[rstl99]

Hi again,

Well, I went to look at that Shopsmith someone was offering to sell to me for around $250 on the weekend. Very nice guy, large shop with lots of tools and machinery. He bought the SS new but has been using it very little in recent years since he's got those other tools to use. Anyway, when I set eyes on it I knew it had been worth the 90 minute drive to the country. Although a bit dusty, it is in excellent condition, no rust on the tubes at all (a big change from my $75 SS - see my other thread!). And it's a 510, with lots of table space, and the casters on the legs. The only thing I saw was missing is the tailpiece and one of the end fittings for turning wood (forget what those are called). It even came with the full manual, and a brochure from the period it was bought (early 80's I gather).

He plugged it in and ran the motor up and down the speeds and all looked and sounded fine, except the drive assembly seemed to be sticking now and then (probably needs a cleaning and lubrication inside, and maybe some new belts).

So now I have 2 SS's! And can make a very nice one between the two of them, since I can use the bandsaw from the $75 one on the 510, and maybe the joiner one day too, once I get the rust off of it!:)

If only I had found this one before spending all that time and effort de-rusting and restoring the $75 one, but at least I'll have a fully-functional spare drive assembly, and other parts. And I learned a lot about these machines by taking the other one apart and inspecting it. Maybe I'll turn the $75 one into a stubby, like Bill Mayo was suggesting. Keep it at the cottage for odd work there, and the better one at the house in the city.

Now to find room for all this stuff!!

--Robert