Shopsmith Forums

I just bought a Shopsmith. It's in pretty good condition and wasn't used very often by the previous owner. Just needs some new lubrication.

The number on the headstock is 516626 REV D. Can anyone tell me what this means. The instruction manuals that came with it all have early 1980's printing dates, however the headstock has a red detachable on/off switch, which I thought was from later models.

The people I got it from were selling their grandfather's machine, so they don't now a lot about it since the grandfather isn't around now.

Thanks.

Monkey
Hi and welcome to the forum.
The headstock with the red switch with the removable key is the latest version of the SS headstocks. I don't know when the exact date is that they started this headstock but if you go onto the SS website there is a lot of info as to when some of the more significant changes were made. My machine is from 1983 and has the old chrome toggle switch so yours should be after that date. The SS site also has a serial number lookup which will give you the year of manufacture.
Bill V

I went to the Shopsmith website and found the serial numbers and where it is located. On the vent plate is the number 77415, but I still don't see this in the list of serial numbers.

Looks like January, 1981. Here's the link for the serials by month and year. I was scratching my head over the first number you posted with the Rev D, as it didn't look like any serial number I'd ever seen!

http://www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/faq/markv.htm

OK, that makes sense since the manuals all have early 1980's dates. So this would still be the 500 version? Are there any good or bad issues with this model and of production?

Thanks.

wa2crk wrote:Monkey
Hi and welcome to the forum.
The headstock with the red switch with the removable key is the latest version of the SS headstocks. I don't know when the exact date is that they started this headstock but if you go onto the SS website there is a lot of info as to when some of the more significant changes were made. My machine is from 1983 and has the old chrome toggle switch so yours should be after that date. The SS site also has a serial number lookup which will give you the year of manufacture.
Bill V

I thought that the removable (safety) switch was introduced in 1991. This is when production of the the "C" headstock began.

Part Number 516626 is for a warning label.

I would expect to find the serial number on the left end of the headstock but they were on a pressure sensitive aluminum tape that could be removed. They have also been stamped on the vent plate.

Don't be surprised if you find that your baby is a bit younger than you are thinking.

A picture would possibly eliminate some of this guessing.

dusty wrote:I thought that the removable (safety) switch was introduced in 1991. This is when production of the the "C" headstock began.

Part Number 516626 is for a warning label.

I would expect to find the serial number on the left end of the headstock but they were on a pressure sensitive aluminum tape that could be removed.

Don't be surprised if you find that your baby is a bit younger than you are thinking.

A picture would possibly eliminate some of this guessing.

Do not overlook the possibility the 'manuals' and the headstock are from different 'eras'.

If it has the 'C' headstock, the 'serial number' should be a date after 1991. Serial numbers were replaced with dates in 1988.

So if he has an early 1981 serial number with a 1991 or later "C" headstock someone who had more than one machine under repair got confused and put an early number on a later machine? Sounds plausible.
Bill V

could someone have inadvertently switched the belt covers between an '81 and a '91 headstock?

would there be a give away like unused holes in the cover or the casting?

iclark wrote:could someone have inadvertently switched the belt covers between an '81 and a '91 headstock?

would there be a give away like unused holes in the cover or the casting?

Nope! Not between 81 and 91. ...61 and 62... - yep.