Interesting Batz, I too spent some time on one during my apprentership and after! You only have to look at some of the metalworking forums to see how much of following they have amongst the home machinists, every size from 7 to 24 inch stroke. fflinstone, this an excellent machine, not difficult to learn to use ( lots of info about). It came with the vice which is often not the case and secondhand shaper vices are hard to find and can cost as much as a shaper without one!
Graeme