Thread: Antique Sher Workmate

I'm hoping to sell this great piece of Australian history - my classic 1960s Australian-made Sher Workmate.
In amazing condition, this is well looked after, originally by my dad, and now by me, it is a rare rust-free example.

sher.jpg

For those unfamiliar, Sher was made in the 1950s and 60s, I think the factory was in Collingwood, before the company was later bought by Skil.
The Shopmate can be used as a small table saw, lathe, grinder, sanding disc (or whatever else you can connect to the 1/2" arbour).
Also converts into a vertical drill press.
(It also converted, with attachments I don't have, into a benchtop planer, morticer, and other things, according to the original catalog)

Comes with the original 2 speed (750/2000rpm) Sher drill which still works great. Ends in a 1/2" UNF thread.
(This was refurbished in the early 2000s, but as with any old electrics should probably be checked by the new owner)
sher_label.jpg

Comes with all the accessories seen here, including:
- TWO rust free cast-iron tables. (One has the support arms removed so it can be used in drill-press mode without moving it to the edge of the bench)
- sets of 1/2" arbours to which you can attach saw blades, grinding wheels etc
- 5 blades (3x 5" blades I think never used, as you need a 7/8" to 1/2" bushing.)
- lathe spur centre, tool rest and dead centres.
- drill chuck (uses 1/2" UNF thread)
- 7" sanding or lathe plate
- small grinding wheels and wire brushes.
- copy of original catalogs and instruction manual

In the photos below it shows how the Workmate converts into the different modes.
It flips on one end to become a drill press, which is why there is a second table. Otherwise you would need to mount this on the end of a bench.
sher_drill_a.jpgsher_drill_b.jpgsher_drill_c.jpg

Also included is the frame of a smaller Shopmate model which takes the smaller drill (which I don't have), so it is only the frame.
sher_mini.jpg

Asking just $150 for this collectors item.
Local pickup Melbourne western suburbs.


sher_blades.jpgsher_sander.jpgsher_saw.jpg
sher_lathe.jpgsher_grind.jpgsher_plate.jpg