A while back I posted about some New Deal Era card cabinets and was wondering if anyone knew anything about them.

Well, last week I traded them for an incomplete air compressor, missing the motor but looked like a decent size. I got it last night, today I looked at it for the first time in the day light and what do I see on the tank.





not sure if I should or

Thing spins up and seems to pull some air through the piping is a little odd I think? It will definitely need a new switch.

Any idea if its safe? Its past the one year warranty.

It appears to have two cylinders, based on the bulge in the casting.





So what should I do next with this thing? Any idea as to how it should be plumbed? Other suggestions?

I have an old compressor also. Yours is older than mine is, as mine's a 1941 vintage, at least the tank is. I believe the compressor is original to the tank on mine. I was told as long as I keep the water out of the tank it'll last forever. Apparently the end bells on the older tanks were 1/4" thick, whereas the newer ones are 1/8". Your tank appears to be of different construction than mine, but I also have an oxygen tank for my torch that has an original date stamp of 1920 on it, and it's still in use and doesn't leak. I know that's not the same thing, as presumably no water resides in that tank, but still. Can you get the plug out of the end bell and look inside the tank to see how much rust and scale is present? I wonder if you'll have to replace the pressure switch. The original one on my compressor works ok. It got a little gummed up from oil blowby, but once I cleaned it up it works fine. I think the plumbing looks like it might be correct, just needs to be redone for neatness sake.

That looks like a refridgerant compressor, based on the output connections, intake port. They work for air,but often have oiling problems. I'd scrap the both but thats me.

What are you aiming for? Something that you can use, or something old and unusual? The tank, legs and deck are original, the pump and switch are not. Likely your compressor looked something like this one: http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage...amrlgs:aj1:140 I have one and have seen a few others just like it.

Maxim,

Ya'll be careful with aged pressure vessels, ya hea' ? Them thar pounds per square inch sho' do add up over all them square inches!

One of my college buddies just had one blow out a end bell. The bell flew literally between his son's legs and then BROKE THE CAST IRON BASE OF A DRILL PRESS. A small difference in the trajectory and it might have shattered a leg. A smaller part broke my friend's cheekbone......

There was a long thread about how to rig a hydrostatic test on a compressor tank.

JRR

I got this thinking I could have a bigger air compressor then what I have now,

I don't think the tank is safe, at least I wouldn't take a chance. However, I think the AC head itself should be alright? It doesn't seem like something that would have changed much over the years.

Anyone want to trade me something interesting for the antique tank?

My grandfather had a tank that looked just like that one except it was rivited together! It had a 1 cyl compressor on it that from the look of it could not have had more than a 1" or so cyl. The preasure was set to only 90 psi and it would run for about an hour to get there!

I have an old timer, too. It definitely needs a new tank.
http://thevirtualbarandgrill.com/machinery/uglypump/

JR, that is a funny ad for that compressor, Makes no noise, that would be the only one ever.

About 10 years ago I needed a gas powered compressor for my part time tire service business. I bought a 13 hp honda, had an old 2 stage 23 cfm head, and put it all on top of an old 60 gallon tank a buddy had donated. it had a date stamp of 1946 and had been arc welded.

After using the thing for about 2 months I was working on a job and the safety valve started going off. I walk over to the truck tp see whats going on,turns out the auto throttle down had malfunctioned. As I looked at the gauge on the tank I realized it had topped out at 300PSI!!! I hit the kill switch and ran for my life! I kept a building between myself and the truck until the sasfety shut off and then drained the tank from a hose I had been using.

Upon inspection I found no signs of damage. I made sure the unloader was repaired properly and went on to use the machine for a number of years.

The problems with refrigerator compressors.

They pump oil, on a closed ref system it comes back, on an air system, it goes into the tank. and you have air with an oil mist in it.

The returning cold refrigerant helps cool the compressor, when you pump air the inlet temp is ambiant. the compressor will get really hot when pumping air.

The moisture in air gets past the rings and contaminates the crankcase oil. Refrigerant oils are not water freindly. A change to air compressor oil would help this problem.

But I really like the tank.

Maxim

I would be interested in trading for the compressor tank.
I have a 1939 Champion compressor pump and been looking for a a old tank to go with it for are showroom.
I am in the air compressor business.
Ware are you in Colorado, I am in Rio Rancho, New Mexico, close to Albuquerque.
I will PM you with my contact info.

Picture of the compressor pump.

Andrew

That is definately a refridgerant compressor. An oil separator would keep oil out of the tank, but since another member has the correct matching compressor why not work up a trade with him?

I've used the 30 gallon propane tanks for compressors before...just have the valve removed and wash out any remaining oil thoroughly. Don't do any welding on the tank and be sure to install a good quality relief valve set about 20 lbs. over your normal working pressure. Since they are "proofed" at rather high pressure it's a safe conversion.

If nothing else, I think Harbor Freight has a two stage twin pump for less than you paid for that.

Maxim

Just got the tank down from Denver, and it is sure nice, not all rusted up.
Will just clean it up with some soap and water. and mount the new old pump and motor on it. Will post pictures of it when complete.
Andrew

Thanks Maxim for taking it over to Bill's place on a sunday.

Heck Airman, go ahead and hydro it while your at it. I bet its still good.

Please post pics

Here are a couple of pictures of the pump and motor setting on the tank.
Still have to mount it and plumb it up. I am going to leave the old pressure switch on the machine.



Any body have a flat belt sheave for the motor, about 2" d 2" wide; 5/8" bore
or now whare I might get a used one.
Will follow up with more pictures after I get everything monted up.

You can see a new Champion air compressor in the back ground.

Andrew

You might try over on Harry's Old Engines for a pulley. I'm sure one of the old stationary engine crowd must have an extra laying around.

We expect to see that thing huffin' and puffin' here in the near future!

Your tank used to have a pump and motor similar to this one: http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage...amrlgs:aj1:140 I have one which is the same as that pictured in the link.

The compressor you linked to is a differant manufacture, now a lot of the manufactures use the same company to make the tanks.
Here is a picture of the label on the tank.



and here is one of the manufatures data plate, from the compressor manufacture.


and here is one of the tank manufacture. We call this plate the ASME data plate.


Today most of the air compressor manyfactures use a few of the tank manufactures. like Manchester, Steel Fab, Hanson. These are the big three.

Andrew