Mystery 1960's / 70's Craftsman Variable Speed Motor

[7th Kahuna]

This past weekend, one of my neighbors was having a garage sale. I walked over to take a peak and in one of the boxes I found a Craftsman 1/2 hp Reversing Variable Speed Motor (model 266.23450). If it hadn't said Craftsman on it, I would never have guessed. I asked the guy if he knew what it was for and he said he thought it was a garbage disposal, adding that he wasn't really sure and that I could have it for $5 if I were interested. For $5, I figured I couldn't go wrong. When I got it home I looked up the model number but to no real avail. There are only two mentions of it that I could find. One suggested that it might have come from an Atlas lathe. I checked the Craftsman OEM list on the OWWM site but '266' is 'unknown'.

I am particularly curious about the accessory port which appears to have also offered some sort of remote control option.

So does anyone here know anything about my $5 Variable Speed Reversing Garbage Disposal?

I plugged it in and it works. You may note in the second picture that one of the mounts is cracked. The arbor has been adapted to threads (Craftsman adapter) though the actual arbor is smooth and keyed. The only clue to it's use, is a note that it is suitable for intermittent slow speed use and continuous high speed use. I would think that precludes it's use with a lathe.

I also found a 10 amp old school battery charger. Just what the doctor ordered for the electrolysis tank . . .

 

[jakemac]

It would have to have been use on a tool. You wouldn't use a variable speed motor on a garbage disposal. I like that the rheostat is built-in.

and it's a Crown Logo too !

 

[Outlawmws]

I'ts likely a motor for either an electric die grinder, or for a center-less grinder setup to use on a lathe.

 

[zkling]

Well this is a coincidence. I use to have one of those. Actually I saw a second one at a garage sale over the past weekend. They wanted $50 for it. Needless to say I had to pass.

They were sold as a universal tool "Variable speed motor" from the late 60's on ward. I don't think they came as OE on any of the machines, but I am not sure about that. They are in the old catalogs online.

To my knowledge they made two versions one, without a remote speed adjustment and one with a remote speed adjustment. Yours being the latter which were also the later in production compared to the non remote speed adjustment versions.

I wish you the best of luck in finding the applicable remote for it. I sat down with a meter figured out where the pins went and built one. Wasted WAY to much time doing it. Those motors are not very common as they were SUPER expensive when they came out IIRC ~2-3x a standard single speed motor. PLUS the cost of the remote speed adjuster.

If I was you.... I would try to sell it to someone that is looking for it and then purchase a few standard speed motors. Your life will be much simpler.

 

[Steevo]

That would make a perfect bandsaw motor.
slow for metal and fast for wood.

 

[7th Kahuna]

... They were sold as a universal tool "Variable speed motor" from the late 60's on ward. I don't think they came as OE on any of the machines, but I am not sure about that. They are in the old catalogs online. ...

If I was you.... I would try to sell it to someone that is looking for it and then purchase a few standard speed motors. Your life will be much simpler.

Thanks for the input. I don't know why I didn't think about the catalog. Brain fart I suppose. I hadn't downloaded any of the late 60's catalogs; grabbed the 1969 catalog while you were adding the image. There it was, both in the motor section as well as being featured with the drill presses.

That would make a perfect bandsaw motor.
slow for metal and fast for wood.

Bandsaw, scroll saw, apparently drill press, Halloween contraption . . . I figure even without the remote control it could be pretty handy. Then again, if somebody REALLY, REALLY needs it, I could be persuaded. I really need to stop collecting stuff until I get a proper garage.


They came in 1/2, 3/4 & 1 hp versions. One thing I noticed however is that the one in the catalog has a standard mount, mine does not. Perhaps it attached to a standard mounting plate. The catalog version also doesn't have the controls on the side as mine does and the remote port is at minimum a different color. Of course it wouldn't be the first time the actual item differed from the image in the Sears catalog. In any case, it's a 1/2 hp VS motor for $5. I say 'not bad'.

 

[jakemac]

I really need to stop collecting stuff until I get a proper garage.

No, no - you've got it all wrong. You need to collect more stuff, so you have a real reason to get a proper garage !

 

[7th Kahuna]

No, no - you've got it all wrong. You need to collect more stuff, so you have a real reason to get a proper garage !

Oh, believe me, I have enough reason. And adding more all the time.

 

[ng8264723]

If you decide to get rid of it I have a wood band saw I would like to try to make duAL PURPOSE

 

[rusty65]

Personally I would love finding one of the 1hp models and hooking it up on a nice heavy duty craftsman 150 drill press and going to town on some metal and wood.


Sent From Snap On Head Quarters deep in China.

 

[bluebolt]

Those make a GREAT drill press motor. I have two, a 113.23440 1/2 hp that does NOT have the lever so no reverse or stop nor does it have the remote switch and port. It is on my Craftsman 150 drill press and works great, slow it down to 500 and drill speed is around 180 I believe. Works great with a big drill bit in metal.

The other one is a 266.23480 pretty much the same as yours. 1/2 hp reversible with the remote hookup. It will go on my early 1950's bench model drill press.

Yours is missing part of the the motor mount, its a simple bent piece of metal just like the catalog picture.

As it says its for intermittent use at low speeds, I got it too hot one time and it shut down. After cooling down and resetting it it was fine.

 

[bluebolt]

And I would happily pay $50 for another one of those if it was working properly!

 

[A_Pmech]

For those wondering, I just had to know...

$79.99 in 1970 is $481.39 in today's money according to the BLS Inflation Calculator.

 

[tinkertalker]

I just bought this motor in a yard sale, yet it has all the wire leads pulled off their blades
and i have no idea which one goes where. Is there any way I can find out?

 

[JZiggy]

Sorry to wake this thread up from hibernation. I just got one of these motors, exact same part number. It was part of a late 60's drill press.

I'm weak in circuits. Is this motor a brushed DC motor with the speed adjust knob being an AC to DC converter and voltage regulator?

 

[701isme]

Hello, just wondering if the "Mystery 1960's / 70's Craftsman Variable Speed Motor" is for sale?

Thank You.

 

[demersal]

I too am looking for one of these motors. Mine lasted just shy of 50 years on our drill press, it has spoiled me with its versatility. email at [email protected]

Thanks!

 

[BradsWorkbench333]

Hello, just wondering if the "Mystery 1960's / 70's Craftsman Variable Speed Motor" is for sale?

Thank You.

I have one that came on a craftsman Drill press I just bought. Is in great condition. Runs fine. No rust. I would be willing to sell it for the right price. My email is [email protected] send me an email and we can talk.

 

[6PTsocket]

Sorry to wake this thread up from hibernation. I just got one of these motors, exact same part number. It was part of a late 60's drill press.

I'm weak in circuits. Is this motor a brushed DC motor with the speed adjust knob being an AC to DC converter and voltage regulator?

To work with the triac mentioned in the ad, it would have to be a brushed motor. They are also refered to as universal motors because they will run on AC or DC with no modification. There may be rectification for the control circuitry but the motor is just in series with the triac, across the AC line. This is no different from an outboard router speed control or an incandescent lamp dimmer.

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[BradsWorkbench333]

I too am looking for one of these motors. Mine lasted just shy of 50 years on our drill press, it has spoiled me with its versatility. email at [email protected]

Thanks!

I have one that I might be willing to sell and just saw the remote for sell on eBay

 

[Alchymist]

Those make a GREAT drill press motor. I have two, a 113.23440 1/2 hp that does NOT have the lever so no reverse or stop nor does it have the remote switch and port. It is on my Craftsman 150 drill press and works great, slow it down to 500 and drill speed is around 180 I believe. Works great with a big drill bit in metal.

The other one is a 266.23480 pretty much the same as yours. 1/2 hp reversible with the remote hookup. It will go on my early 1950's bench model drill press.

Yours is missing part of the the motor mount, its a simple bent piece of metal just like the catalog picture.

As it says its for intermittent use at low speeds, I got it too hot one time and it shut down. After cooling down and resetting it it was fine.

Weird timing - just yesterday I put this Craftsman variable speed motor on my 150 drill press. Bolted right up. I had it on my South Bend lathe, which I just sold. Have had it for a long time, over 15 years or more. No info one the web under that model number. I've been watching for the jackshaft adapter with no luck, but this works out just fine. Four speed ranges, with motor variable 300 to 1600 rpm on each. Really needed the low speed range, haven't calculated the lowest speed, but it's down around 100 -150 rpm.

 

[bpjr]

The foot pedal shown in the catalog looks like a basic variable speed pedal used for sewing machines.

 

[Outlawmws]

Sewing machines use AC/DC motors (brushes) as do/did the old variable speed corded drills for instance, so that they can get away with a rheostat. Most AC motors won't do it that way and you need a different speed controller (VFD) and even there, many AC motors won't do that either.

 

[larry_g]

The foot pedal shown in the catalog looks like a basic variable speed pedal used for sewing machines.

Read the catalog page in post#6, the foot treadle is just an on/off switch.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[demersal]

Hello again, I am still looking for one of these. Mine kicks the overload breaker the instant I start it. I have no local experts old enough to source caps and diodes if that's what the problem is. This would be simple for my dad, he used to upgrade anything electric but he's gone 10 years

 

[CHEVEN]

I know this thread is old but just bought a drillpress with the motor. don;t know anything other than it looked cool, i pick it up tomorrow . (hope it works, it looks sharp)

 

[lafester]

Wow that is a nice example of that model.
Good find!

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[CHEVEN]

Wow that is a nice example of that model.
Good find!

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I picked up the drill press today ...its like BRAND NEW ! I took it apart to get it in the cars and i got to say its crisp !! (and HEAVY ) some browning on the raw steel but essentially unused !!

 

[lafester]

I picked up the drill press today ...its like BRAND NEW ! I took it apart to get it in the cars and i got to say its crisp !! (and HEAVY ) some browning on the raw steel but essentially unused !!

Take a look at the big craftsman drill press thread... Yours will be very similar to the popular 150 model.

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[CHEVEN]

Take a look at the big craftsman drill press thread... Yours will be very similar to the popular 150 model.

Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk

I'll take a look . thanks

 

[CHEVEN]

Well I got my new pride and joy home and its nice !! I think the only way to get a better one is go back in time and buy one from sears. it has jacobs chuck and all . so tight. I had to wipe off most of the COSMOLINE. the pulleys have zero signs of use .....tested, and never ran.

 

[lafester]

You can get some pretty nice drill presses for $600. My vs powermatic was only $400.

I would put that one at $250 ish for the condition and cool motor. Of course Ohio market is quite different then CO.

 

[Extech]

Well this is a coincidence. I use to have one of those. Actually I saw a second one at a garage sale over the past weekend. They wanted $50 for it. Needless to say I had to pass.

They were sold as a universal tool "Variable speed motor" from the late 60's on ward. I don't think they came as OE on any of the machines, but I am not sure about that. They are in the old catalogs online.

To my knowledge they made two versions one, without a remote speed adjustment and one with a remote speed adjustment. Yours being the latter which were also the later in production compared to the non remote speed adjustment versions.

I wish you the best of luck in finding the applicable remote for it. I sat down with a meter figured out where the pins went and built one. Wasted WAY to much time doing it. Those motors are not very common as they were SUPER expensive when they came out IIRC ~2-3x a standard single speed motor. PLUS the cost of the remote speed adjuster.

If I was you.... I would try to sell it to someone that is looking for it and then purchase a few standard speed motors. Your life will be much simpler.

I know this was a lot time ago. But I recently picked up one of these motors. Thinking about using it to convert a bandsaw to variable speed. Making a wood/ metal band saw. Was wondering if you had information on the accessory plug wiring? I could 3d print a plastic plug if needed or if anyone wanted one too. I’d like to make a remote panel for my band saw and use a foot switch with the rheostat knob on the band saw stand. It’s either this. Or go back to my original idea of using a treadmill motor and speed controller for the band say.

Any info you can assist with would be greatly appreciated! Thanks