I purchased an extremely vintage (I think) Saylor Beall air compressor but I can't figure out anything about it. The tank is cast and is marked with Saylor Beall model 930 K Detroit Mich. on one side and tested 300lb on the other. They are not on plates. it is cast into the tank. The compressor is only marked with a couple numbers randomly around it. 2155 K, 101 K, and what looks like a serial number of 12265. The motor is a Westinghouse AC Motor 1/3hp. I have looked all over the internet for an answer and can't even find a tank that looks like this. It is small. Any help is greatly appreciated. I will post pics when I get a chance.
Please help me figure this thing out
- Thread starter Chrisbu
- Start date
fury9
Well-known member
c'mon you could do better,looks like it delivers about 0.9 scfm
Outlawmws
Well-known member
I have been using it perfectly fine for all the quick stuff. Kids bikes, cars, etc. But I am starting to take it apart to do a real good cleaning on its. I want to change the air filter but can't find one for it anywhere. The little box on the side with the hole on the top has what almost looks like a filter cartridge of some kind. Looks mostly eaten away by bugs. Did I mention it only cost me $15. The Westinghouse is worth three times that easy. One day I will have a compressor that I need help to move. Until then, this will work.
Hi,
Last year I refurbished one of those... it had been my grandfather's for a while and it was his friend's before that. Mine says "Patented 1933" on it.
Here are a couple pictures of mine:
Before:
After:
If you have questions, I would give their website a shot:
http://www.saylor-beall.com/request_information.php
My refurb went well, so I never ended up contacting them... Let me know if you find out anything interesting.
-Wes
Last year I refurbished one of those... it had been my grandfather's for a while and it was his friend's before that. Mine says "Patented 1933" on it.
Here are a couple pictures of mine:
Before:
After:
If you have questions, I would give their website a shot:
http://www.saylor-beall.com/request_information.php
My refurb went well, so I never ended up contacting them... Let me know if you find out anything interesting.
-Wes
kams1973
ALLIANCE MEMBER
you may have better luck contacting Saylor Beall
I actually contacted Saylor Beall and the guy there told me it was too old and he couldn't help me. Or didn't want to. Not sure........wgifford, that looks almost identical with the exception of a couple things like the air filter. Did you add the switch? Mine is plug in and it goes. No shut off.
Outlawmws
Well-known member
Your switch, (whether is is working or not...) is inside the box above the gauge, with the cables going to and from it. It should have a setting for when to come on and when to stop (probably separate controls). Does it stop automatically? (with no pressure it's going to start on plug in, unless the pressure switch also has a cutoff included, unlikely on such an old compressor.)
Get the cover off that box and take some good close ups.
How high of pressure have you run it? And FYI it should never see the test pressure of 300 PSI, that is the test pressure, not a working pressure. I'd expect it to cut off somewhere around 100-150 psi.
SB seems to have written this old of a compressor off (unless you just got someone unwilling to help..) , so parts are problematic, but that only means for the pump itself. All else can be independently replaced.
Get the cover off that box and take some good close ups.
How high of pressure have you run it? And FYI it should never see the test pressure of 300 PSI, that is the test pressure, not a working pressure. I'd expect it to cut off somewhere around 100-150 psi.
SB seems to have written this old of a compressor off (unless you just got someone unwilling to help..) , so parts are problematic, but that only means for the pump itself. All else can be independently replaced.
Hi,
I suspect the air lines on mine were updated by the previous owner. I think the air filter matches yours (same shape and note the serrations). The pressure switch also looks quite similar. However, the orientation of the head/piston and the pressure switch appears to be rotated by 90 degrees.
I did add the on/off switch on the left. My pressure switch cuts out around 60-70 psi. It takes a while to get there, I doubt it could get up to 100 psi.
When I emailed Saylor-Beall, this is what I got back:
Good Afternoon,
Thank you for your email. Please call us toll-free at 1-800-248-9001 and speak to Mr. Gene Oberlander at ext. 225, he is most knowledgeable about the older models.
Sincerely,
Marianne Harris
Marketing Administrator
Good luck!
-Wes
I suspect the air lines on mine were updated by the previous owner. I think the air filter matches yours (same shape and note the serrations). The pressure switch also looks quite similar. However, the orientation of the head/piston and the pressure switch appears to be rotated by 90 degrees.
I did add the on/off switch on the left. My pressure switch cuts out around 60-70 psi. It takes a while to get there, I doubt it could get up to 100 psi.
When I emailed Saylor-Beall, this is what I got back:
Good Afternoon,
Thank you for your email. Please call us toll-free at 1-800-248-9001 and speak to Mr. Gene Oberlander at ext. 225, he is most knowledgeable about the older models.
Sincerely,
Marianne Harris
Marketing Administrator
Good luck!
-Wes
recently got this 930k tank, and boy it’s a beauty! Cost me $150! Shipping was $100, NY to SF destination. Seller still has the compressor which I have asked if he can ship, I basically paid $50 for tank, compressor and motor but only got the tank. Thought I had a compressor that would work with this tank but nothing did. I will have to get its original compressor.
Tank is cast iron and 30 pounds heavy! It’s is a solid piece of art. Love the cast mounts and legs and the lettering. It is PERFECT
Tank is cast iron and 30 pounds heavy! It’s is a solid piece of art. Love the cast mounts and legs and the lettering. It is PERFECT
Attachments
-
4B5EF643-797B-4CBF-81F9-C80EDFBB6D72.jpeg -
F680563F-3CB0-4BE4-B826-DA19221C82FA.jpeg -
9FB9118E-2895-4604-97F4-3906CF131F5C.jpeg -
15A6E481-F5F6-4C17-A68E-5F699B0A9966.jpeg -
B74E7A38-B75A-4E5A-8B4E-A6EE6A38EB24.jpeg -
1C455A38-BCE3-4C9D-A101-4E711F2EB706.jpeg -
70FFE4B3-4686-4A0F-9CB1-8D32137E431E.jpeg -
C890BB98-2119-443E-BFBE-F4CEB130D68F.jpeg -
BED800B0-668B-46F4-B444-3DB4A76A6B23.jpeg
I was cleaning out my garage this morning and came across tghhe same tank and pump. My pump says patned 1933 on it. It has this silver tag on the tank as well. I think it a ser.# I remember about 15 years ago a friend gave it to me. I saw it in his storage shed, and thought it would be cool hanging on the of my new shop. I love anything old or just different. This morning decided to get it out and do some research. And this form is my fist stop. Any idea what they are whorth.
Attachments
Shiftless
Well-known member
That old machine loots really cool! Nice score! 
Would anybody else be a bit nervous about using an air compressor with the original tank that is getting close to 100 years old?
Would anybody else be a bit nervous about using an air compressor with the original tank that is getting close to 100 years old?
Oh snap!!! You've got skills, man.Hi,
Last year I refurbished one of those... it had been my grandfather's for a while and it was his friend's before that. Mine says "Patented 1933" on it.
Here are a couple pictures of mine:
Before:
After:
If you have questions, I would give their website a shot:
http://www.saylor-beall.com/request_information.php
My refurb went well, so I never ended up contacting them... Let me know if you find out anything interesting.
-Wes
That old machine loots really cool! Nice score!
Would anybody else be a bit nervous about using an air compressor with the original tank that is getting close to 100 years old?
A cast iron tank that's nearly 100 years old; no way I'd use an ancient cast iron pressure vessel. These things are definitely very cool, but my second thought is "giant grenade". YMMV.
Outlawmws
Well-known member
That old machine loots really cool! Nice score!
Would anybody else be a bit nervous about using an air compressor with the original tank that is getting close to 100 years old?
This is what pressure testing is for (filled water test); but before I did that I'd get it magnafluxed for any cracks that may be starting, inside and out,
The real question is what was its design limit intent? What do you test for/to?
Then I'd likely limit it to maybe 80% of its intended use pressure.