Interesting air compressor

[Honest Bob]

So I happened across this very interesting air compressor. Two identical pumps with a single 3/4 hp motor made by the Deming Pump company. Can anyone identify the pumps themselves? I'm just interested in care/maintenance. They appear to work pretty well and are much quieter than my oil less beasts.


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[Ditch]

No idea but cool

 

[Alchymist]

Those appear to be refrigeration compressors.

 

[Dr Stan]

Those appear to be refrigeration compressors.

I was thinking its home brewed. More than likely cobbled together during the Depression. IMHO best used as a conversation piece.

 

[Ditch]

I was thinking its home brewed. More than likely cobbled together during the Depression. IMHO best used as a conversation piece.

Why?
What's wrong with using it?

 

[Modern Garage]

The only downside is that refrigeration compressors usually rely on lubricant being circulated​with the refrigerant so any oil in the crankcase is meant to be pumped out and back in through the closed system of a refrigeration unit, but with use as an air compressor you'll be losing your lube all the time and dumping excessive amounts of oil into you air lines and tools.
It's possible that's not the case with these compressors but it looks like it due to the low ports on the side of the cylinder instead of on the top of the head.
Joe

 

[Modern Garage]

There appear to be crankcase fill plugs though so check if there's oil in em and if so just use it and check frequently for oil consumption a d decide if its okay for your needs.
Joe

 

[Honest Bob]

Ahh refrigeration compressors, that makes sense why they are so quiet. Thanks for the help guys, believe it or not I actually read up on making air compressors out of refrigeration compressors. However it never dawned on me that the old ones were powered by an external motor.

 

[Boilerhouse]

30 years ago I acquired an old refrigeration compressor, I gave it to my brother and he uses it to this day. The crankcase takes oil, so no worry about lube.

 

[lilredex]

Another vote for refrigeration compressor heads, look at the flare connectors on them. Most refrigeration sytems were belt driven like that until the hermetically sealed units became available in the late fifties or so.

 

[VocaTexas]

Older a/c compressors had a crankcase similar to a small engine. My '76 F-250 uses a York compressor that has a crankcase. More modern compressors like Sandens use oil in the refrigerant for lubrication.

I know of an old homebrew compressor that a man put together in the fifties using an a/c compressor and the last I knew it was still being used daily.

 

[Zeke]

With no tank how do you expect to build any pressure?

 

[crguy]

Cobbled together, and pretty much useless to me. The 2 wheels with the curved spokes are worth more than the rest of it.