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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 10 ก.พ. 2025
- What I hope is an interesting story of an 85yo air compressor that started life working at the Ft Knox US Gold depository and then continued to faithfully serve at the John Deere dealership working 6days a week for 60 years or so. Lincoln Electric Motors and Champion Air Compressors did a pretty good job when they built this one!! Hard telling how many cubic feet of air this thing has compressed over the years but it has to have been a lot as it serviced an 8 bay shop. Tune in in 15 years to find out if it is still working at the Centinel mark. :-)
I always enjoy hearing and knowing the history of a machine or tool. I can understand why that one holds a special place with you. Very cool you got it and I think it would be great to see it supplying air to your new shop area.
You said it for many of us Adam.
Nice to hear Mike enjoying the story of the compressor. I love old machines too. They will never be made again.
That is very impressive.
I have an old Ir air compressor tank from the 50's It must be at least 3/8" steel it has a Kellogg american pump. I pieced it together almost 30 years ago it runs and runs sometimes all day when glass bead blasting. You have to watch the newer ones but the older thick ones seem pretty reliable.
I mounted an electric cooling fan to it after it melted the pressure line a few years ago.
Be sure it is rotating the right way as that can cause heating issues. That is how somebody screwed up my Devilbiss.
I agree I have it so the fan on the pulley is pulling the air towards the pump not pushing it away . Im assuming that's correct?
Yes it should blow over the pump, be sure it is not restricted though as usually it calls for at least 2ft open space in front of the pulley before a wall or it will recirculate and not cool properly.
Yes it does . I think the issue was i used a nylon washer in the pipe. it is now flare fittings with a bracket to avoid vibration. Buy running all day i mean hours with out cycling . You could probably find a head kit for the one you have and freshen it up. Or just run it.
Good stuff Brian ! Love the oldie but goodies! Thanks!
Glad you enjoyed it
if not mistaken it is Dayton pumps still the same design under Champion, high capacity the best i used for the last 20 years. still parts available.
Morrison Bros. tank, I'm redoing a Morrison Bros. riveted tank on a Champion 1927 compressor. Riveted tank hydro tested fine at 250 lbs. You got nice piece!
Very cool you have an old one as well. Is yours a v4 too?
@@bcbloc02 No, it's a very antiquey 1927 opposed 2 stage. Just old original survivor.
Video, th-cam.com/video/04Qq8C0Bdis/w-d-xo.html&t
I guess that’s where the saying runs like a champ comes from. Champion Compressors
Cheers
Martin
Brian - You should write out the history as you stated it and put it in a plastic sleeve to keep right on that machine. I watch all of your stuff. Somehow I was late on this one. Great channel ~Dale
Hey Brian - Glad to see that you kept the compressor out of the scrap yard. The way you keep adding machines to the shop, I hope you and Bailey don't run out of space! You may need to start planning an addition to the shop!!!
No matter how much room you have you always run out of space. :-0
Enjoyed the story. when my devilbliss compressor bit the dust
a few years back I bought a used 80 gallon champion. It spent it's life under a small roof outside an auto body shop. original owner said it was ten years old and had a new 5hp baldor motor. After I got it cleaned n setup I discovered it was 27 years old, and when the starter box starter clicking at shutdown I had to replace the 3 motor capacitors. I have it set up outside as well and it's been running like a champ ever since. My old devilbliss wouldn't keep up with sandblasting but the champion doesn't mind it at all.
Almost a love story. But isn't that how it is for those that appreciate old but quality machines.
Definitely amazing machine thank you sir for the history on it and keeping it safe
Built in the days when the Earth and it's people were good. Thanks for sharing.
That compressor couldn't have found a better home. I agree with you on the sentimental aspect.....I am very much cut from the same mold. This video is very much appreciated. Now give that old girl some spritzes of simple green and a roll of paper towels and stick her in the corner.
Thank you for the video, honestly. Videos like these are very much appreciated. Would like to one day also get a field trip out and see your field equipment. I love tractors and farm implements.
Who knows what this thing did at Ft Knox. Maybe it operated the vault doors! How cool would that be!
Brian Streufert h
Nice score
Great to hear the history. Imagine how much has changed since 1933 and that compressor hasn't. Thanks Brian
Yeah most of the factories where this stuff were made don't even exist anymore.
Many of the factory buildings still exist but have been turned into artists lofts and condos!
got one just like it out of a no longer around factory in ravenswood wv used to sand blast moulds , it was a gift to a 90 yr old man that worked his life there , sold it to me and I restored it and it services my shop now ! I agree might be the best ever made
I always like to see a piece of history saved, great job!
It would be fun to watch you unload this gem and wire it up so we can hear it run. It’s hard to believe that this company is still in business, making compressors that last 85 to 100 years! Once you bought one you’d never have a need to buy another! I’m glad it found another good home and will be put to good use again. A great video, I like you throughly explaining the content, keep them coming Brian!
very cool story and great compressor for your shop for the next 100 years ..
Nice save Brian! I owned and used a Lincoln floor sanding machine built in the '30s that I bought from my stepdad in 1972. It had the single phase 5hp version Lincoln Electric motor. While sanding a gymnasium floor in '76, the sawdust clogged armature caught fire. I had to disassemble the smoldering motor and take it to the small town fire station where we used a CO2 extinguisher to cool it down and blew out the compacted dust. I simply reassembled the thing to check for damage, and used it that way for another 25 years, and as far as I know it's still working. Yes, Lincoln Electric knew a thing or two about electric motors!
Nice to hear this story..awsome..I hope u keep..up in your shop..I own a Saylor-beall air comprsoir..American iron..champion is still good ..better built back in the day..my dad had a Saylor-beall in the 1950s till 1999..I wish I kept that one..I had no way of removing it it was 120 gal 5 hp.running a 5 bay service station..my dad built..I know if I had it today it would still be in serv today..
Very nice story about that old compressor, makes me glad i bought a Champion, mine is still a young buck and still strong, made in 1972, thanks for sharing the history.
We retired ours for a screw type so i pulled the 15hp motor before it was dropped in scrap bin
Nice compressor. Great story, thanks
Not a chance,I like these stories, thank you.
Amazing story, and well presented, Brian.
Love the History of this machine, I love hearing the history of various machines, I bought a machine that is 47 yrs old and it runs like a new one with a 5 motors still running like a sewing machine, love watching your videos!!! I just bought an old Compressor that is 55 years old and it works like a champ since i put the original motor back on it 10HP 120 gallon Quincy!!!
Very cool!
Nice share brian, i used to rebuild and run hydrovanes on straight 30w engine oil, was taught by an old german guy who used to run power stations in Egypt during the war, there was always entertaining and long stories about many of the plant machinery we worked on together for twenty years till he passed in 2000, so i can always appreciate another story.
If you don't like stories about machines... Ha! Why would you be watching this channel if you didn't? Wonderful video Brian.
85 years and 85 more to go. Great video! Thanks Brian.
Very cool its so vintage.... I love my Saylor Beall its old school looking also
Real nice story of old equipment. But fix the unloader as it makes for a complete machine. Good luck with the new shop too.
Thanks Brian for the Back story on that. From a fellow tool lover, I'm glad that old fella can live out his golden years with someone who cares!
Only 2,017,990,000 revolutions since 1933 @30% duty cycle 6 days a week, 8 hours a day, excluding holidays! The motor has about 4-6 times as many. Hardly even broke in! Give her a bath, some tlc and show her off. Thing of beauty...
That is a long lasting motor, but for fun and for scale: We have a turbo molecular pump that has run 55,000hours at 833Hz and the bearing is still silent (not unusual to run these 100,000hours and upwards) - that makes 164,934,000,000 revolutions.
I agree, she is a fine looking older lady. Of course, I've always been attracted to the ones with big jugs, lower speed more capacity.
Aloha Brian from the 50th State! Really enjoy your videos. That's a nice old compressor with lots of life left. I've got a Ingersoll Rand T30
from 1944 still going in my shop. Enjoy.
James Carvalho
Maui, Hawaii
Sweet!
Thank you. Over built & under stressed, will last many lifetimes with a little filter & lube maintenance. My small IR V-twin is from the WWII years, said the IR factory guy when I wanted a new crank. Crank sheared when the non-shielded flywheel grabbed Fat Jerry's shirt, and he tipped over the unmounted compressor trying to get away from it. Fixed the crank in 1971 and it's been running great, except the 220 motor gave up in the 90's, didn't like running on 120 I guess!
looks like you could use a intern with o c d neatness compulsion to help with the clean up and arrangement of tools, metrology, and setup ware
Absolutely! Alternatively just finishing the shop and getting a bunch of cabinets and drawers in as well as being able to climate control things so they don't rust will make it MUCH better. Only so many hours in a day though.
Great story, I'm always game for good ole shop talk
Hi from Australia Brian, I really enjoy your personality and content.
Great piece of Americana! The real definition of PUMPING IRON. Loved the story.
Nice, I like it. Looks like a nice, simple, quality piece of work. Cool, interesting Story.
Can't beat that old stuff, it was made to last. Low RPM is the big reason those old compressors lasted forever. There is a compressor very similar to the one you have in the shop at my work that I know is at least 50 yrs. old. I worked on the unloader once, and that is it, other than regular oil change and maintenance. It also has a Lincoln motor that is 10hp 3 phase and keeps on clicking along. Glad you rescued that ole' girl and maybe she'll make the century mark with you looking after her.
That's awesome! That's going to make a nice addition for sure. Thanks for the backstory!
What a great story. As long as it was drained of condensation build up regularly I'd have no worries. They sure as hell don't make them like that anymore. Be lucky to get ten years out of a new one. Thanks for the video.
Great story about a great piece of equipment. Loved it. You always do a good job of telling what you know about a too for the shop. Good comment about the oil. Thanks, George
Great video Brian. Great lookin piece of machinery.
Saw all the comments about checking the wall thickness, etc., but I think you could get a better indication of soundness by a hydro-stat test of the tank. I just don't know what the test pressure should be for a 175 psi tank. I recently bought a Husky 175 psi 20~ gal compressor - quieter than any of the other 20 gal units I looked at which none exceeded 125 psi. Big difference in cycle time between 175 and 125 psi for same air load.
Good story! Sure beats the news these days! Thanks for sharing the simple good news America was built on.
Thanks , Brian for the story- Great tool score
As a friend of mine once said about an old car of mine that kept running..."it must have been built on a Tuesday." When no one was hung over but early in the work week when everyone was still focused on their job and not what their weekend plans.
Bryan Humphreys, there's a lot of truth in that.
Glad you were able to get it. I have been fighting a compressor issue last few months but made that problem go away this week. Congrats on the new equipment Brian
Great story Brian. I love the old iron and love the story behind it. Thanks for the story.
Great storey, I have never heard of a compressor running that long! Keep her running till 100.
Going to try to!
Thanks, Pal. FINE old rig! I ended up at Ft. Knox back in late 70 running a test on an 1150 Case dozer at the Armour/Engineer Board. Only time in my hitch I wasn't in WW-2 barracks or a tent!
Those ancients certainly knew a thing or two about making their messages to the future last!
Nice one.
Love old stories on machinery.
Just awesome! Thank you so much for sharing such an interesting piece of history.
Great story..that's when tools were made to last..! American made by Americans..I own a saylor Beall,air compressor..same thing American made..in st.johns , Mich. My dad owned one .when he built his service station..in 1959.. ran till he sold out in 1999. Never had any problems with ours ..now I own one..brand new..fory home shop..
Cool story on the compressor. I have a 1937 Brown & Sharp horizontal mill with a Bridgeport head mounted on the over-arms. As far as I can tell nothing has been replaced or rebuilt and it still works great. Always enjoy your videos and the the shop is looking great 👍been following your build since you started.
I don't think anything has been repaired or replaced on my Monarch lathe either besides normal maintenance items like wipers and gaskets. This compressor would have a lot more hours on it though running multiple hours a day for so long.
Good info and very interesting. Thanks for telling that compressors story.
That's a great piece for the shop. From my experience the slow turning compressors always last longer. I can't remember the last time I saw a Lincoln electric motor but you're right, they do know something about electricity, my early (60's) Lincoln tombstone welder is still going strong. Good video
My Lincoln Fleet-Arc welder is from the early 1940's and still works fine.
@@bcbloc02 My Ideal-Arc from the early 1940’s still works fine too. One of my favorite videos Brian, thanks.
Interesting video Brian, nice bit of background history. also you are correct about the noise. 450 RPM is a lot more tolerable to listen too than the faster more modern compressor speeds which I find irritating to say the least . most of the noise comes from the air intake and what I have done many times is fit a vehicle oil bath type air cleaner via flexible hose, this quietens the noise down a lot . plus the oil bath air cleaner also gives the intake a small amount of lubrication and extends the life of the compressor against rust and corrosion from water humidity in the air.
Mr T. Thanks for that info . I never thought about doing that with a compressor intake , I did at one time have a 2 stroke diesel welding plant that used to drive me up the wall listening to that racket for several hours a day , so I made up a very long exhaust and put that in a trench covered over with planks and some soil on the site where I was working , not fully successful as most of the noise was from the engine but I will keep in mind what you suggest .
Very interesting history about the compressor. Thank you for taking the time to tell us about it. It illustrates on how well we used to makes machines in the USA. All the best to you Brian, Joe
Sad isn't it....we used to make such great stuff.
and with it's patina it fits in with your shop, nice that you know the history!
Great story. I have to agree with everyone that this machine has found the perfect home. I hope I'll still be around to see it's centennial.
Great video, I enjoy the back story on old machines. I was lucky enough to find an old Gardner Denver in the scrap yard, it works so well. Keep up the great work, I really enjoy your channel. Cheers, joe
Great Find. I always enjoy finding some history with an old machine when I buy it. I'm retired from the Transit Authority (Bus Company) in Louisville where I was a shop supervisor. A few years ago at the 29th St facility the company removed an old air compressor that had been there since the late 30's. Huge single cylinder horizontal push pull model. Don't remember the manufacturer, but a testament to whoever built it. Thanks for the history Brian
I saw an Ingersoll-Rand at an suction in Cincinnati that was built like a steam engine. It was dated from the 1890's. It was a single cylinder running horizontal and mounted on a concrete platform with about a 6foot flywheel. I hope it didn't get scrapped.
Enjoyed the history lesson it will make a great addition to the shop.
Love the history and nostalgia!!!
Made before planned obsolescence became the norm... 😃👍
Nice story Brian. I think you will find that compressor pump today is run with either a 7.5 or 10hp motor and spun considerably faster, giving more air but causing more heat, wear and water when its run.
some history on that compressor brian well done saving it, look forward to seeing it run sometime
It could not have gone to a better home. Thanks for sharing the story.
Very cool piece of history Brian
That is a cool piece of history! 85 years, OK I will say it "They do not make them like they used to". I love old equipment and I know it has a good home with you.
Good to see it go home with you.. great background.
I like what makes you tick, Brian. Thanks for the great story.
Hi Brian
That compressor has come to the right place your shop to be able to make an incredible 100 years service
You will have to throw it a party
Give Bailey a stroke from me.
Regards mark over the pond in the UK 😁
A mate of mine has a similar old compressor, nice and slow and runs the shop well.
I’m just a wee bit envious of that there compressor Mr Bloc , hehe , I’ve been looking for one for awhile now , unfortunately I only have room for a vertical tank unit until I have a shop to put it in !! I’m glad you were able to rescue it and continue its story and I hope that it lasts for a long long time!!!🙂🙂👍
Manufactured in an era when men and companies took some pride in the products that they built!
I still remember what it sounded like running in the shop. Party.
The perfect place for that compressor with all your older equipment. 450 RPM it will run forever.
You're not wrong about them being the best. The collision-center that my father runs uses a slightly bigger version of what you have there to supply 10 or so body-men and a painter. The sound of that old girl starting up used to scare the hell out of me as a child. Tis a real rip-snorter.
The technician probably measured the insulation resistance with a megger. As the insulation on the windings breaks down, the resistance drops. However, a single reading can't tell you much about how long a motor has left. You need to log several readings over time. I think it's pretty rare for anyone to do that now. Alledgely this is done on very large industrial motors.
chas williams, it's done on not so big industrial motors as well, along with logging temperature.
Sure glad you saved the old compressor. Cool story .
Almost brought me to tears..
my work is puttin an 80 gallon air compressor on craiglist its pretty heavey duty. but im on the west coast
Wow. Awesome story. Thanks for sharing. Dam sure don't make um like they used to. Ya gotta be born at least in the 50's to understand that. Very cool.
Nice story Brian hope I'm as good at 85 - they're like old reliable friends - I have one of similar vintage of the upright variety not as large - really impressive service - should be awarded some sort of medal,
This is awesome. Thank you
Good story about good equipment - always a winner with me.
_Dan_
Very cool compressor Brian. I enjoyed the backstory.
A channel title change may be in order to "Home for Portly Wayward Machines". Glad to see you are now the custodian of a fine piece of iron.
IF the compressor weighs 1000 lbs. and is traveling at 60 mph, it would possess 120,000 foot-pounds of energy which may exceed the capacity of orange ratchet straps. I believe the Machinery Handbook calls for yellow. :-)
glad that you got it thanks for posting
A great story about folks who cared about making machines to last; and the owners who maintained it well. How many machines (of any genre) made today will last this long?
Cool story Brian.. Thanks for sharing.
Totally cool,,, and great history behind it Brian.... Always a welcome addition to your video making!!! :o)
O,,,
I worked on air compressors for about 25 years and that is something to see. A new today is junk in about 10 years at best