New old compressor

[JHZR2]

I like old stuff. I certainly didn’t need a compressor, but this one is different. And was a super deal.

A true 2HP, old school speedaire. Why do I say true?

Because while compressors these days pulling 15A at 115 will often be given ratings like that, this one is a real load.

24A at 115 is more like it.

It’s old, I don’t need to use it for much, blowing off dust and dirt mainly. I have a big 60 gallon one at my one shop, and a 20 gallon at home. I just like that it was big motor on small tank.

I’ll put it up in my loft at my one garage. I kind of wanted air, but didn’t want some giant heavy compressor upstairs. This one is maybe 150 lbs. I can lift it and carry it myself.

I’m thinking new filters (they look like little filter pieces of sponge), oil change with ISO (?), and a new 240v cord.

Not sure if I can even get parts or the manual…

 

[Sumboodie]

2hp is about 15 amps on 120v. Around 8 on 240v

24 amps is around 3hp 120v, 5hp 240v

 

[JHZR2]

2hp is about 15 amps on 120v. Around 8 on 240v

24 amps is around 3hp 120v, 5hp 240v

Yeah I get it, but look at the motor label.

Says 2HP. Says 115v, 24A.

115x24x0.8=2208 W real power. That’s actually almost 3hp!

That’s why I thought it was a good little unit. Bigger motor than modern midsize compressors, and a nice small tank to keep it light and out of the way since I won’t use it a ton.

 

[Sumboodie]

Yeah I get it, but look at the motor label.

Says 2HP. Says 115v, 24A.

115x24x0.8=2208 W real power. That’s actually almost 3hp!

That’s why I thought it was a good little unit. Bigger motor than modern midsize compressors, and a nice small tank to keep it light and out of the way since I won’t use it a ton.

It's just labeled non standard. Maxed out at 20 amps on that plug. 20 amps is almost 3 hp.

So something isn't correct on that plate, or it's very inefficient.

But eiher way, it'll do the job.

Most don't have an airfilter beyond something to keep the big stuff out.
Iso 100

 

[oldcodger]

You really need to keep those filters installed. I have the same unit but the motor/pump/switch are rearranged. Without those filters that thing will bust your ear drums. It is hard to believe those reed valves can make that much noise.

 

[Chris142]

I had one just like it but under the Campbell Housfeld name. It worked good until I needed to replace the belt. It was not available anywhere. I did all sorts of things to get by with it then the tank rotted out and di recycled the thing.

 

[Ausfahrt]

Nice score.
I bought this 1953 DeVilbiss a few years ago for my shop but it's really more than I need and with shop space at a premium I am considering selling it. I really like it though.

 

[JHZR2]

I had one just like it but under the Campbell Housfeld name. It worked good until I needed to replace the belt. It was not available anywhere. I did all sorts of things to get by with it then the tank rotted out and di recycled the thing.

I almost find that hard to believe!!

Belts are just a length, width, angle…. What was unique about it?

In case I need to get a new one.

You really need to keep those filters installed. I have the same unit but the motor/pump/switch are rearranged. Without those filters that thing will bust your ear drums. It is hard to believe those reed valves can make that much noise.

That’s helpful, thanks! Any recommendations on filter selection? Doesn’t look like much…

It's just labeled non standard. Maxed out at 20 amps on that plug. 20 amps is almost 3 hp.

So something isn't correct on that plate, or it's very inefficient.

But eiher way, it'll do the job.

Most don't have an airfilter beyond something to keep the big stuff out.
Iso 100

Maybe it’s a very old and inefficient motor design? Ohm’s law predates it though…

The PO had it connected as 240 originally, had the other 240 nema plug, but then moved it to a different garage, set the max pressure lower, because they only needed 50-60 psi and found they could run on a 20A garage circuit. I know how to revert it.

The PO ran it, I’ve run it, works great. I have a 240v outlet so I’m going to rewire and set pressure higher at some point.

 

[Trav]

That is a good unit, Dayton electric motors we top shelf! Nice find, jut check the tank carefully before wicking up the psi.

 

[Chris142]

The belt was a flat belt like a serpentine not a V belt. The groove spacing was different than a regular belt. Iirc it had 4 grooves

 

[Nessism1]

I had one just like it but under the Campbell Housfeld name. It worked good until I needed to replace the belt. It was not available anywhere. I did all sorts of things to get by with it then the tank rotted out and di recycled the thing.

I had the Campbell Hausfeld version and beat on it hard. Used it for sand blasting, at a high duty cycle. The 20 gallon tank was way too small for my use case, so it was a waiting game every time I used it. It was running fine despite the hard use, but eventually the tank rusted out. My bad for not draining it often enough. I wound up using epoxy to glue on a patch, which got the machine back in use. I eventually traded it for a discount off a big massive hunk of compressor, 80 gallon DeVilbiss.

There was a compressor war between sellers, back in the 1990's up into 2000 or so, where manufacturers were overrating their machines, which eventually wound up in court. They were also selling units that really pushed the capabilities of the electrical circuits they were tied to. My DeVilbis was rated at 5hp, which I'm pretty sure is beyond its capabilities. There is tons of compression, and the machine struggles to start. It's blown the start caps more than once. I eventually bought a different pulley, to gear it down. That has helped. It still blows the klixon sometimes on starts, though. I'm waiting for it to blow up, but so far, no. It's noisy as hell too, but dang, it pushes a LOT of air.

 

[JHZR2]

The belt was a flat belt like a serpentine not a V belt. The groove spacing was different than a regular belt. Iirc it had 4 grooves

I’ll have to look closer at this one.

Thanks!

 

[JHZR2]

That is a good unit, Dayton electric motors we top shelf! Nice find, jut check the tank carefully before wicking up the psi.

I don’t know that I’ll be running big air tools off this. I have a big 60 gal 240 DeWalt at my other property for that. This one is mainly for blowing air for cleaning and maybe some lugnuts I think. So I may just set the shutoff at 90 or something and leave it.

It’s only a 135psi unit to begin with.

 

[SC Maintenance]

Yeah I get it, but look at the motor label.

Says 2HP. Says 115v, 24A.

115x24x0.8=2208 W real power. That’s actually almost 3hp!

That’s why I thought it was a good little unit. Bigger motor than modern midsize compressors, and a nice small tank to keep it light and out of the way since I won’t use it a ton.

I assume the 24A is inrush, not sustained.

It looks like a cool old compressor that will outlast you, and the next guy.

 

[Donald]

Nice score.
I bought this 1953 DeVilbiss a few years ago for my shop but it's really more than I need and with shop space at a premium I am considering selling it. I really like it though.
View attachment 282913

Get an upright model.

 

[Fitter30]

Servicefactor is special on motor tag and has a internal overload

 

[Sumboodie]

I had one just like it but under the Campbell Housfeld name. It worked good until I needed to replace the belt. It was not available anywhere. I did all sorts of things to get by with it then the tank rotted out and di recycled the thing.

It a special belt?

I just replaced the 43 yr old belts on mine, just uses "B" belts that happen to cross with a common lawn tractor, so quite cheap.

 

[JHZR2]

Continuous duty I think mine says.

Servicefactor is special on motor tag and has a internal overload

 

[walterjay]

I had a compressor with the same tank. Can't remember the manufacturer. I used it until the tank rotted out at the bottom.

 

[jhellwig]

Compressor motors are an odd motor. Usually referred to as a definite purpose motor or special duty. They are made to start easier under load and thus other aspects of the motor suffer. You cannot figure anything with the normal watts per hp calculation.

240 volt portable air compressors and other electrical power tools were a lot more common back in the day.

I have a newer but still the same color wheel barrow speed air compressor. It is a nice smooth compressor.