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Man waits 23 years to get MARK V of his dreams
Paul Abelquist, Rocky Point, NY writes…
“ I saw the Shopsmith for the first time in 1971. I was 27 years old, married and had three kids to support on my meager Navy salary. In 1994 I was diagnosed with cancer which required surgery and an 18 month course of treatments. I needed something to take my mind off my misery and remembered the Shopsmith. I looked in the newspaper and found a used one. Then I started my first project which was a queen’s size sleigh bed.
That was four years ago. My workspace has grown to a fully air-conditioned, air-filtered, 12-foot x 24-foot wood shop. I have every accessory and attachment for my Shopsmith that is available. I am currently finishing a cedar lined hope chest for my daughter-in-law. I still scour the papers for Shopsmiths. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a spare?”
Saved “delivery money” buys MARK V in 1953
Rod Walter, Fairfield, PA writes…
“Before I was born in 1953, my mother was pregnant with my sister…so my parents started saving money for her delivery because they thought their insurance wouldn’t cover it. After discovering that the insurance did cover the delivery, they bought a 1953 demonstration model Shopsmith at Montgomery Ward’s for $189.
Well, now my Father has given the Shopsmith to me and it’s still working in mint condition. Maybe if you didn’t build them to last 50-75 years, you could sell more of them. Thanks for the memories, Shopsmith!”
“Good Neighbor” has big surprise for man next door
Ryan Richins of Evanston, WY writes…
“About eight years ago…my neighbor owned a MARK V and let me use it to make a crib for my daughter. I was completely amazed by what it could do. Two years later, I moved across town and was showing the crib to my new neighbor. The very next day, he asked me to come to his house because he had something to show me. There in his basement was a MARK V that had hardly been used. I commented on how someday, I would like to own one.
A short time later, I was working in my garage when to my surprise, I noticed my neighbor pushing his MARK V towards my house. He told me that it was mine...FREE OF CHARGE…and that I could have it because he didn’t have time to use it.
He gave it to me on the condition that I make people happy with the things that I would build and I promise him that I would build his wife a China Hutch when I got good enough. I have tried to fulfill that promise and I will be forever grateful to this man. Whoever said that all the good guys are gone, have never met my neighbor.” |
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