I am retired completely now, having closed my parts store.
I have been self employed for 20 years, servicing Shopsmith Mark V headstocks (over 1,800 repairs), selling parts and videos on ebay and thru my own web store (over 8,000 sales between them).
I thank you for your patronage.
This site hosts links to my videos, archival information, etc to help you troubleshoot, repair and maintain your Shopsmith Mark V.
Sept 13, 2021
I retired from repairing Shopsmith Mark V headstocks in March 2020.
My web store remains open for parts, manuals, paid videos, tools, etc. This web site has lots of free videos and info to help you troubleshoot, maintain and repair your machine yourself.
March 25, 2020
Over 1,800 headstocks rebuilt now in 12 years of my specialty service.
36 Headstocks rebuilt so far in 2020
Frohreich, CO, 1999 machine
Locke, MT, 1982 machine
Akers, SC, 1998 machine
Garvin, NJ, 1978 machine
Sowell, TX, 1962 machine
Foster, TX, 1984 machine
Cutter, CA, 1954 machine
Pratt, LA, 1982 machine
Gove, MI, 1987 machine
Bernhardt, IL, 1993 machine
Smith, OR, 1978 machine
Sullivan, MO, 1984 machine
Sharp, TX, 1980 machine
Mitchell, MN, 1984 machine
Meyer, MA, 1989 machine
Dowell, MO, 1980 machine
Davis, AL, 1980 machine
Chasson, MD, 1961 machine
Stuart, FL, 1989 machine
Higgs, PA, 1982 machine
Hodge, PA, 1995 machine
Richardson, NC, 1993 machine
Gallagher, PA, 1980 machine
Pomplon, MD, 1954 machine
Dodge, MA, 1981 machine
Davis, NC, 1980 machine
Dekker, FL, 1981 machine
Hurling, LA, 1981 machine
Donaldson, CA, 1980 machine
Staton, VA, 1982 machine
Riddle headstock #2, SC, 1985 machine
Bates, MA, 1990 machine
Lightfoot, NM, 1985 machine
Bond, NM, 1992 machine
Kruk, CT, 1982 machine
Lott, TX, 1997 machine
Raugi, WA, 1982 machine
106 headstocks rebuilt in 2019
Akiss, MD, 1962 machine
Grogan, FL, 1988 machine
Riddle, SC, 1989 machine
Tennant, AK, 1990 machine
Parker, AL, 1984 machine
Stackowicz, IN, 1984 machine
McKenna, WA, 1985 machine
Welch, UT, 1980 machine
Havens, NC, 1954 machine
Van Groningen, MI, 1980 machine
Bradley, GA, 1955 machine
Rudd, WY, 1970s machine
Helt, NC, 1980 machine
Alexander, AL, 1985 machine
Anderson, FL, 1985 machine
Powers, SC, 1985 machine
Baggett, GA, 1983 machine
Davieau, MD, 1986 machine
Thelin, TX, 1982 machine
Schimmel, MS, 1980 machine
Wolk, CT, 1956 machine
Dodge, MA, 2005 machine
Brown, KY, 1982 machine
Daniels, OH, 1981 machine
Serritella, CA, 2003 machine
Dick, TX, 1980 machine
Ancellotti, VA, 1986 machine
Dickerson, IN, 1979 machine
Cervi, VA, 1982 machine
Bequette, WI, 1983 machine
Rose, GA, 1979 machine
Estep, PA, 1954 machine
Gorum, AL, 1982 machine
Gosbee, ME, 1979 machine
Gatling, NC, 1980 machine
Geijer, GA, 1992 machine
Craft, VA, 1955 machine
Stanbaugh, PA, 1991 machine
Sweeney, NY, 1982 machine
Phillips, MI, 1984 machine
Gelbrich, OR, 1982 machine
Hall, WV, 1985 machine
McDonald, GA, 1982 machine
Pittenger, VA, 1982 machine
Larason, MD, 1954 machine
Disney, CA, 1986 machine
Fonville, TX, 1955 machine
Atteberry, CA, 1962 machine
Lampkin, VA, 1982 machine
Murray, VA, 1997 machine
Carpenter, TX, 1983 machine
McCracken, KS, 1979 machine
Troupe, FL, 1993 machine
Pronga, IA, 1983 machine
Smith, TN, 1984 machine
Koch, PA, 1979 machine
Kurko, PA, 1985 machine
Day, GA, 1982 machine
Plank, AL, 1985 machine
Kapuscinski, MI, 1955 machine
Smith, MI, 1982 machine
Bednarczyk, MA, 1982 machine
Conner, AZ, 1978 machine
Hanson, IL, 1990 machine
Weaver, CO, 1988 machine
Sanford, OK, 1985 machine
Braig, TX, 1982 machine
Swimeley, WY, 1980 machine
Katzenbach, NV, 1985 machine
Dudek, GA, 1983 machine
Jenkins, SC, 1979 machine
Marr, VA, 1990 machine
Sturgeon, ME, 1982 machine
Reese, MD, 1978 machine
Carricato, PA, 1983 machine
Rogers, MI, 1984 machine
Alcorn, VA, 1977 machine
Mahnke, SC, 1979 machine
Leuchtmann, CO, 1983 machine
Nelson, CO, 1981 machine
Hendricks, SC 1980 machine
Koone, TX, 1978 machine
Chapman, PA, 1983 machine
Nousaine, CA, 1956 machine
Hitchcock, WV, 1955 machine
Serinese, NJ, 1982 machine
VanBuskirk, TN, 1984 machine
Dugan, PA, 1956 machine
Condit, UT, 1955 machine
Perucci, GA, 1981 machine
Burpee, TX, 1956 machine
Avery #2, CT, 2007 machine
Galkiewicz, NY, 1986 machine
Zemcuznikov, MO, 1978 machine
Wales, CO, 1955 machine
Larson, SD, 1984 machine
Hamilton, PA, 1956 machine
Anderson, MA, 1981 machine
Cusack, MA, 1974 machine
Blake, NY, 1953 machine
Nicholson, WA, 1978 machine
Finley, MO, 1981 machine
Braid, WA, 1981 machine
Sperry, CA, 1989 machine
Rohrer, IL, 1961 machine
Avery, CT, 1981 machine
I have been a specialist in Shopsmith Mark V headstock repairs for 10-1/2 years now. In April I passed the landmark of machine number 1,600 since I began specializing.
Here are some thank you emails from customers in April 2018:
Jacob –
Hey Jacob – Received the head and it shipped in perfect shape. Looks great but I have not installed it. Next week I will be painting the base and waxing the slides, then installing it. Thanks for all your help. Rob
Received my mark v back, and it works perfectly.
Jacob: Thanks for the outstanding work you did on my Mark V. I enjoyed meeting and talking to you. Howard.
I received my 1959 Shopsmith headstock in January 2018 from Jacob. The Shopsmith was purchased by my father in 1959. I remember when he fired it up and how it sounded. Jacob has put a magic touch on my head stock. The headstock purrs like a kitten and I believe it runs better than when my dad first fired it up in 1959.
Jacob did an excellent job on my headstock. He kept me informed all along the way from initial delivery to receipt. I could not have stumbled upon a better person. Jacob took a worn out headstock and brought it back to life in better than new condition.
Thank you so much for the quality service and dedication you provided to me.
Steve
I recieved the parts a day before I expected them. Thank you for your quick service. I also really appreciate the how to videos.
Jacob,
Thank you for sharing your ShopSmith videos online. I would’ve been completely lost trying to restore the 70’s Mark V that I was fortunate to acquire for $100. I’ll use it as a lathe, but I just may expand its capabilities.
I was able to tear down the headstock step by step and determine exactly what I needed to free it from the rust that was acquired over 15 years of non-use. In addition to the belts and bearings, you emailed me the video links necessary to install the items. They were spot on.
I’ve attached a pic and a video. I believe you should get most of the credit for getting her running!
Thank you!
Taylor
Jacob
Got the head stock back late Tuesday got it all back together and it runs great. Thank you again for such a great job. If I ever need any repairs again you have the job
Richard
Good Evening Jacob,
The head stock arrived this morning and I have already put it back on
the way tubes and checked it out. Runs like a new machine and I am
very pleased. You are providing an excellent service to Shopsmith
owners. Thank you very much for you repairs to my machine.
Dave
Jacob,
My headstock arrived at noon. It is now mounted and runs like a new one. Thank you for the speedy and expert repair.
Bill
PS
It was worth the price just to get the quill working correctly.
Thanks for the notification and quick turnaround on my headstock. I’m looking forward to using it again. It’s been a pleasure doing business with you. I will certainly be recommending you to friends who need your services.
Thanks again
Randy
Jacob, just wanted you to know that all is properly assembled and the SS
works great. I cut a large piece of plywood today and all was easy. I have a
SS jigsaw and that also worked as expected. Thanks so much for making my
1980 run perfect. You did an exceptional job and
I am very pleased. Good health in the coming year. Don
Hi Jacob
The headstock arrived today. Thanks so much for the quick service. Claire
This month marks a milestone for me. I have been specializing in Shopsmith Mark V headstock repairs for 10 full years now. In that time, I have rebuilt over 1,500 machines in addition to doing component repairs, motor rebuilds, and parts sales for do it yourselfers.
In these 10 years, I have published my troubleshooting guide, 3 repair dvds, 48 YouTube short repair related videos and this website. Two years ago I moved away from eBay sales and created my own parts store, now with over 80 items for sale.
Thank you to the thousands of customers over these years, some travelling to bring me their machines. It has been a pleasure to help you enjoy your woodworking more with a properly operating headstock. I have learned a ton and still see things I have never encountered so that keeps it interesting.
I accepted a very limited number of machines in December due first to the holidays and then later because of an accident that left me with a cracked pelvis.
4 Headstocks rebuilt in December 2016
Philipsen, MN, 1981 machine
Hall, NY, 1982 machine
Mayfield, TX, 1959 machine
Waters, IN, 1982 machine
2 left on hand to be rebuilt, 3 incoming going into the New Year.
Here are some recent thank you emails:
Jacob, Just wanted to get back to you and let you know your videos rock!! Due to them and your email advice I was able to replace my broken part, Control Sheave Assembly, and get my machine up and running smooth. Thank you sooo much! ~Todd
———————————————————–
Hi Jacob, I received my headstock today and installed it back on my machine. Thank you very much for your expertise in bringing this back to life. It was 63 years old when I sent it to you for repair! Now that it is repaired, it should last at least another 63 years! Thank you again. Marvin
————————————————-
Jacob: My Shopsmith arrived and is working well. Thank you for your excellent and timely work! Stuart
————————————————————
Good Morning Jacob! The headstock arrived yesterday afternoon. I reinstalled it on the frame and started it up – it runs great and, as I had hoped, the speed changer works better than ever. I guess the original owner didn’t follow your instructions about not trying to change speeds unless running – it makes problems for the quadrant gear. Thanks for the quick turn-around. I haven’t had a chance to look at the DVD and trouble-shooting guide yet, but I’ll go through them before I have too many hours runtime. Eric
Here’s a really poor design for a centrifugal switch in an Emerson motor from a recent repair. Fortunately, few Emersons had this style of switch. It was melted from heat.
In July I passed another milestone with over 1,300 headstocks I have rebuilt since I started specializing in these machines about 9 years ago.
A freshly repainted greenie from 1956.
A burned up internal start switch from a recent repair.
A brittle gilmer belt from a recent repair.
2015 was a good year for my little business. I rebuilt 155 headstocks despite taking off most of July, and half of December. Plus of course lots of component repairs, a few hundred video sales, publications and parts sent all over the country. And despite thinking I have seen it all, new things crop up from time to time to keep it all interesting.
I have now rebuilt 1,200 headstocks since I began specializing in them nearly 9 years ago.
I have uploaded 9 new videos to youtube this week since it was quiet. I now have a total of 22 public troubleshooting and repair videos, and 7 private repair videos for parts customers. See the YouTube page here for a list of all the videos.
Headstocks rebuilt in December :
Holmes, VA, 1985 machine
Carriles, LA, 1985 machine
Oliphant, MI, mid 1970’s machine
3 on hand, 3 more on the way. Get yours in before the winter’s repair rush.
This website was viewed from 87 different countries in 2015! Over 50,000 hits. My YouTube videos have also had more than 50,000 views total.
My pro painter neighbor is repainting the trim on my shop today, an overdue task.
Jacob's Shopsmith Repair Info 