ID this vintage electric motor! HELP

[hempdiddy]

I pulled this motor off of an old school style bench grinder, you know, the kind your grand-dad built out of sheet metal and connected the grinding wheels to the motor by a belt. Anyway, I estimate this motor to be built in the 40's but I can't hardly read any of the ID plates. I plugged it in and it fires up, but I need to know what HP and RPM this this runs at. I'm thinking of using it as the motor on a light mid-size air compressor project I'm concocting.

Sooooo...., can anyone shed more light on the manufacturer and the specs? I estimate it to be a 1/2HP (based on no scientific evidence), but I'm hoping its stronger than that. I can say this thing is very heavy. It may be upwards of 30 lbs or more. Very heavy for the size.

<a href="http://imgur.com/DndyB0u"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/DndyB0uh.jpg" title="source: imgur.com" /></a>

<a href="http://imgur.com/Q4nIscC"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/Q4nIscCh.jpg" title="source: imgur.com" /></a>

<a href="http://imgur.com/vnOEs7f"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/vnOEs7fh.jpg" title="source: imgur.com" /></a>

<a href="http://imgur.com/k7MUgVx"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/k7MUgVxh.jpg" title="source: imgur.com" /></a>

<a href="http://imgur.com/NkJWOpw"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/NkJWOpwh.jpg" title="source: imgur.com" /></a>

 

[Fyrme]

Brown-Brockmeyer B-Line motor.
110/220v 6.6/3.3 amps
60 cyc.
Serial number 620111
HP is either 1/3 or 1/2 (Don't let the weight fool you. I've had old 1/3hp motors out weigh newer 1/2 motors)

All I have so far.

 

[454ragtop]

Looks like a 1/2 HP to me by the amp ratings. Probably have to put a tach on it to find out the RPM, maybe you know someone with a small hand held one? That is a RI or repulsion induction motor, older technology that uses brushes and is a little more maintenance intensive than a more modern capacitor start motor.
Jim

 

[hempdiddy]

Incredible! Thanks guys. Fyrme, how did you gather that info? Did you edit the photos? Anyway thanks so far. I'll stay posted for more info on the HP/RPM ratings.

 

[Fyrme]

I just took the only legible word I could see "Brown" and went from there via Google. Knowing a little about how electric tags tend to read helps too. Hate to say it, but I think that info I gave you was the end of the internet for that motor.

 

[hempdiddy]

In pictures 1 and 5, what is that hinged cap that looks like a fill cap? Oil?

 

[Carla]

Yes, they are oil fill caps.

There is one 'fact of life' about putting old bronze-bearing motors back in service, which will take a little bit of work.

There will be 'oil reservoirs' or 'oil felts' for the bearings, which will have become 'gummed-up' with oxydised oil, over the years, so the motor must be disassembled and the gummed oil washed out with lacquer thinner or similar solvent. Automotive 'motor oil' is not suitable for those motors. Use clean new felt, and a light '10 weight equivalent' DTE or spindle oil.

(gummed oil can, and usually does, form a 'varnish', which must be removed so that the new oil can correctly lubricate the bearings.....failure to completely remove any gummed oil varnish will have the bearings destroyed in surprisingly little time after putting the unit back in service)

Since its a R-I motor, inspecting the commutator and brushes, and cleaning with a lint-free rag, with a little bit of acetone on the rag, then verifying that the brushes are free in their holders, is a good idea. Note the screw for the little clamp which keeps the brush holder from turning.....it is used to set 'brush lead' to reverse the motor if desired.

cheers

Carla

 

[hempdiddy]

So I guess the next questions is: Would this be a good candidate for an air compressor project? Some of the positives described of a RI motor seem to say Yes, but other things (like the maintenance concerns) may point to No.

What do you think?

It would run a small two cylinder pump aimed at putting out 5-6 CFM.

Thanks.

 

[Alan Douglas]

They were popular for refrigeration compressor service because they drew less starting current than other designs, back when houses might only have 30A service.

It's probably 1725 rpm, whether repulsion-induction (brush-lifting) or straight repulsion I don't know.

 

[hempdiddy]

Incredible once again! I was just tooling around in YouTube and came across a video on an antique DeVilbiss pump and wouldn't you know it it.... it's run by a B-LINE repulsion induction motor! How cool! The video shows the smaller 1/4 version, but hey they can run compressors and that's cool! It's even cooler that I'm gonna mate mine to a 1950's Kellogg-American pump, so it'll be period correct!

Check it out here.

 

[Fyrme]

Sweet! Post up your project when you get going on it.

 

[Packard V8]

So I guess the next questions is: Would this be a good candidate for an air compressor project? Some of the positives described of a RI motor seem to say Yes, but other things (like the maintenance concerns) may point to No.

What do you think?

It would run a small two cylinder pump aimed at putting out 5-6 CFM.

Thanks.

Short answer, no. Most any two cylinder pump would need considerably more oomph than that little guy could produce.

Get the specs on your pump. Most have a range of horsepower/RPM/CFM/pressure. On that chart, you should be able to find the RPM and horsepower necessary to produce your 5-6 CFM at a given hold pressure.

jack vines