Ampex 90081-12 motor - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Alan Bain · 4th Sep 2022, 11:01 am

Hi,

I've been given an Ampex motor marked 107V 58/62 c/s 4.5A
Part 90081-12 Type REEL. Cap 25uF.

It was almost certainly from some kind of tape recorder. Does anyone know what it might have been from? Provenance is likely to have been ex-BBC.

Now the intention was to reuse as an AC motor since it has lovely smooth bearings that just keep spinning, but before doing that I wanted to check that it wasn't of greater utility to someone trying to repair an old Ampex machine as I hate repurposing parts that could have been used for a restoration.

Alan

DMcMahon · 4th Sep 2022, 11:48 am

The fact that it is a nominal 60Hz frequency motor (i.e. 58/62 c/s) could indicate that it originally was for the USA market or Japan.

David

DMcMahon · 4th Sep 2022, 12:37 pm

Checking my Ampex 1163 (export version of the 1160) I see it has a dual frequency 50/60 Hz, 117V (117V derived from transformer) motor. This motor is only 0.5A so the 4.5A motor must be quite large.

To convert the 1163 from its default 50Hz to 60Hz requires a conversion kit of 3 x pulleys and a motor capacitor.

David

Restoration73 · 4th Sep 2022, 12:42 pm

Perhaps a motor from an Ampex open reel video recorder ?

Alan Bain · 4th Sep 2022, 1:33 pm

It is indeed quite large and it wouldn't look out of place on a bench top drill press standing at just under 6inch diameter.

I has forgotten the Ampex VTRs; I've never seen any pictures of the innards only the consoles and reels.

4th Sep 2022, 11:01 am	#1
Alan Bain Pentode Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Heswall, Merseyside, UK Posts: 172	Ampex 90081-12 motor Hi, I've been given an Ampex motor marked 107V 58/62 c/s 4.5A Part 90081-12 Type REEL. Cap 25uF. It was almost certainly from some kind of tape recorder. Does anyone know what it might have been from? Provenance is likely to have been ex-BBC. Now the intention was to reuse as an AC motor since it has lovely smooth bearings that just keep spinning, but before doing that I wanted to check that it wasn't of greater utility to someone trying to repair an old Ampex machine as I hate repurposing parts that could have been used for a restoration. Alan

4th Sep 2022, 11:48 am	#2
DMcMahon Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2019 Location: Worthing, West Sussex, UK. Posts: 6,600	Re: Ampex 90081-12 motor The fact that it is a nominal 60Hz frequency motor (i.e. 58/62 c/s) could indicate that it originally was for the USA market or Japan. David

4th Sep 2022, 12:37 pm	#3
DMcMahon Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2019 Location: Worthing, West Sussex, UK. Posts: 6,600	Re: Ampex 90081-12 motor Checking my Ampex 1163 (export version of the 1160) I see it has a dual frequency 50/60 Hz, 117V (117V derived from transformer) motor. This motor is only 0.5A so the 4.5A motor must be quite large. To convert the 1163 from its default 50Hz to 60Hz requires a conversion kit of 3 x pulleys and a motor capacitor. David

4th Sep 2022, 12:42 pm	#4
Restoration73 Nonode Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Surbiton, SW London, UK. Posts: 2,801	Re: Ampex 90081-12 motor Perhaps a motor from an Ampex open reel video recorder ?

4th Sep 2022, 1:33 pm	#5
Alan Bain Pentode Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Heswall, Merseyside, UK Posts: 172	Re: Ampex 90081-12 motor It is indeed quite large and it wouldn't look out of place on a bench top drill press standing at just under 6inch diameter. I has forgotten the Ampex VTRs; I've never seen any pictures of the innards only the consoles and reels.