Strange old Craftsman Inline-4 air compressor

[American Locomotive]

So I found this bizarre little compressor at the Thompson, CT. swap meet on Sunday, and for $15 I couldn't resist.

It's a tiny compressor with a 1/2HP motor, and a small receiver that continuously vents once it hits around 45-50 PSI. The strangest thing though is the tiny Inline-4 single stage pump. I have never seen an Inline-4 pump before, let alone one this tiny.

It's model # 106-5592, and the best I can tell it was originally for a paint sprayer. I'll probably keep it around and use it to fill up tires, as its pressure range is just about perfect for that. The best part about the compressor, is that it actually sounds like a little 4-cylinder engine when it's running. Kind of like an old 4-cylinder tractor running at a high idle.

 

[redmondjp]

That's pretty darn cool - I have never seen one like that - thanks for posting the pics!

 

[Garagetime]

I have too agree that is pretty cool.
Thanks for sharing!

 

[JABgj]

Wondering out loud if it was for something like a paint sprayer.

 

[earthmover1980]

This appears to be a constant run compressor like a rolair type for air nailers etc.

 

[454ragtop]

Know what is even more bizarre, was at the same swap meet Saturday and there was another one of those same compressors there! The other one had been restored, had a newer Dayton motor, and a wood display stand. The guy selling it is a "picker" it seems, nice guy, bought a couple small vises off him. He wanted $150 for his, told me I could have it for $100 if I wanted. That cast iron freebostat with the carrying handle caught my eye, pretty sure the pump said Campbell Hausfield.

 

[American Locomotive]

Neat! It must have been gone by the time we got there, as we viewed just about every single stall and didn't see another one. The "carrying handle" is cosmetic as far as I'm concerned. Thing must weigh every bit of 60 pounds or more - a little much for one hand.

 

[apollo11]

Cool. Post a video!

 

[WMichelsen]

I recently purchased one of these off craigslist. It's in pretty good condition, but doesn't have the ID tags.
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=417227

user:Mac... posted the cross reference to this thread (thanks).

Any idea on the mfg date? I can't find reference to this compressor in the old Craftsman catalogs 1937 to 1943. Similar units, but not this 4-cyl one.

 

[Cruzan80]

Look in the hand tool catalogs from 48 onwards. They swapped which type they were in.

Sent from my IN2015 using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[WMichelsen]

Thanks for the guidance. Unfortunately, those catalogs are hard to find.
I'd love to find more info about this compressor. It must have been relatively pricey in it's day.

 

[Cruzan80]

Can we get a pic of the motor? If it is original, they sometimes stamped month and year codes on it, which would help narrow down the search. Will look thru the scans I have tonight

Sent from my IN2015 using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[Cruzan80]

Think I may have found it. 1955 Spring/Summer Catalog, pg 1153, middle top of the page. Can't make out if there are 4 cylinders, but would be odd to have 3. Didn't see it in the 56 Spring/Summer. .

I have the file in .png, but when I tried to upload it, it kept making it a really small .jpg. Can add a cropped version if it is too hard to read.

 

[WMichelsen]

Thanks Cruzan, that's it.
I posted a link above to the other thread where I submitted my pics. But for convenience, I'll include them here. Mine has a Walker-Turner motor, evidently not original. The whole thing is about the same size as the mechanicals of my small old 6-gal Sears compressor.

 

[ronits]

What you have there is a unit from the original manufacturer-Campbell hausfield- pressure queen. On the side where the oil sight is, in yellow there would be instructions about what oil to put and an alternative power source- an engine to power the compressor. I have the pressure queen as well as the craftsman version. The pressure queen I found locally on craigslist for $30 and the craftsman one was $50 shipped( just the compressor though) I had asked the gentleman to keep the sheet metal base and motor. Will make a wooden 2 plank base for it with cast iron wheels and a vintage motor to match. I find the craftsman version of this compressor nicer looking in the sense that the fins ontop do stick out so much. Wondering if it still has the oil pump inside the crankcase like the original one! I will soon install individual stainless pipe thread on filters to each inlet for that bling effect.

 

[ronits]

Some pics. The pressure queen weighs around 70ibs folks back then were stronger for sure

the sears version seems to be a latter version with the lower half of the crank wider with mounts. I still prefer the earlier crankcase design though

 

[ronits]

Link to the pressure queen running

 

[GMCguy 2022]

Pretty cool compressor I have found one in my father in law’s garage after he passed away from cancer and it’s a cool little compressor gunna get it running again for sure.

 

[Boilerhouse]

Not only are your compressors pretty awesome, I think that receiver is pretty cool too. Have never really seen one that is cast iron with cooling fins.

 

[ronits]

AMAZING! This has more cool parts on it like the motor adjustable base. Been looking for a period correct cast one one for a while now, guessing soon one will pop up at an estate sale making me feel like its Christmas! The compressor looks to be an earlier model and is basically how Campbell Hausfield did theirs on the pressure queen with same raised fins on the head and rounded oil filler. Your father in law had it welded to this tank base it looks like. The breather on the side has a lot going for it there with a cap and all, mine's open to the elements!

 

[ronits]

Not only are your compressors pretty awesome, I think that receiver is pretty cool too. Have never really seen one that is cast iron with cooling fins.

Whats cool is that it would be collecting all that moisture, letting only dry air, cooler air going to the tank. Most likely the main tank maybe in better condition then many of our newer modern tanks! That receiver I think plays more of an important role on here then it would on a portable sprayer unit.