Shopsmith Forums

There is a Mark II for sale in Southern Ca. I have seen one or two previously. What is the history on them ?
Paul

It was made by Magna specifically for Montgomery Wards at their request. That is about as much as I know and that could be wrong.

There is some information on the mark II here - http://shopsmith-tool-hunter.blogspot.c ... rk-ii.html

As John posted

It was made by Magna specifically for Montgomery Wards at their request.

is correct.

The Review and History link Ron posted has errors.

They were made by both Magna Power Tool Corporation and Yuba Power Products. The Mark 2, not Mark II, came out in the late 1950's several years after the Mark 5. It was a lower cost/quality option to sell in Montgomery Ward stores and ended up selling at other stores as well. It was sold as the Shopsmith Mark 2 not under the Montgomery Ward tool line name PowrKraft. It was only made for a few years. One difference is in the headstock. Instead of having the variable speed like the Mark 5 it has different size pulleys to change the speed similar to the Model 10's without a Speed Changer. It can hold and run SPT's like the band saw, belt sander, etc. The locks are screw ends that press directly on the tubes. Since they were made for only a short time, plus or minus 60 years ago, there are not many for sale and finding parts for them is difficult.

Thanks for all the info. SS has had such an interesting past.
Paul