The Shopsmith
The Shopsmith is a lathe-based multi-tool that uses a single motor to perform lathe, tablesaw, and drill press functions. Variations include horizontal boring and disc sander.
The original Shopsmith 10E and 10ER models were invented by Dr. Hans Goldschmidt of Albany, CA, in 1947; made by the Magna America Corporation in Berkeley, CA, from 1947 to 1953; and sold by Montgomery Ward. The Mark V debuted in 1953 but went out of production in 1964. Magna also made the Sawsmith radial arm saw, the Mark II (1958-60) and the short-lived Mark VII, all compatible with the Mark V accessories. The Shopsmith Mark V was resurrected by Shopsmith Inc. in 1972 in Dayton, OH, by John Folkerth, founder and first chairman of the company.
Shopsmith also manufactures and markets a variety of add-on tools that can be run by the headstock. These tools include a bandsaw, wood shaper, jointer, belt sander, strip sander, scroll saw and thickness planer.
One of the unique features of the Shopsmith MARK V is its method of speed control. Rather than multiple pairs of pulleys or an electronic speed control, the Mark V uses a Reeves-type continuously variable transmission consisting of two variable diameter pulleys controlled by a dial and worm gear. Not only does this give theoretically infinite speed variation between the maximum and minimum speeds, it is also simple enough to be serviced fairly easily by a hobbyist.
An injury suffered by the user of a Shopsmith gave the Supreme Court of California the opportunity to create the modern rule of strict liability for defective products in 1963.
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