9:5. Technological Development

John Folkerth resurrects Shopsmith in 1972. 


From "a standing start" in 1972, Shopsmith progressed to $30 million annually in sales in 1980. That same year, 1980, it ranked  29 in INC.'s list of America's 100 fastest-growing smaller public companies. To begin reviving Shopsmith, Folkerth purchased the tooling, machinery, and inventory from Magna America.

[More to come]

Source: Cathryn Jakobson, "Shopsmith Pounces on Its Problems" Inc. 3, no. 4  April 1981, pages  46-51

Shopsmith: Over 100,000 Built! Cheers greeted the 100,000th Mark V to roll off our assembly line early in September [1981]; it was our 100,000th effort to provide you with the safest, most reliable power wood-working tool built. It took four years to build the first 10,000 Mark V's; another four years to build 50,000; and in only two more years we've passed the 100,000 milepost! During the past year we ranked as the  fastest growing, publicly-held company in Ohio. But we haven't forgotten what made Shopsmith successful: satisfied customers. ... Source: Hands On! No 14 November - December 1981 page 19

Shopsmith Bibliography:

1.Anonymous,  "Business Briefs",  Stores Magazine, 82 Issue 9, September 2000,  page 16    2. By:P. McCafferty and M.  DiChristina, "Rethinking the Table Saw",   Popular Science, 240 No. 3, March 2, [year?] page 46    3. N Barrett, "Advanced Shop", Popular Mechanics, 168 No 11, November  1, page 90   4. Reed Abelson,  "Companies to Watch" Fortune, Vol. 120 Issue 5, August 28, 1989, pages 86-86     5. J.Truini, "Shopsmith hits the mark",  Popular Mechanics, 166 No 4, April 1989,  page 64    6. 120-volt planer. Popular Science, 227 No  3, September 1985,  page 53    7. Anonymous, "Organizations Honored for Product Safety Contributions",  Risk Management 32 No 5, May 85,  pages 66-66