Repairing a Magneto Electric Machine, shock machine

[feathercurls]

I am trying to restore a Magneto Electric Machine. I will post what I am doing to share ideas, as I have seen that others here have been trying to restore similar machines.

It seemed to be in very good condition and the mechanism worked OK, but I soon discovered there was no output. This was because there was no contact between the axle and the metal contact. (Picture 2, circled in yellow) If I connect them it does have an output. I am trying to think of a way to connect them with minimal friction. I may have to change the way they are connected.

The belt under the big wheel was scraping on the bottom of the box. This was because the screws attaching the frame to the box at the front and back had come loose. (Picture 3, next to the keyhole, and there is another at the back) I tightened them and I also took the strain off the screws by putting an eraser under the magnet. (Picture 4) This solved the problem.

The magnet is very weak, I will try to remagnetize it.

I will also need to oil it, would sewing machine oil be any good?

[Herald1360]

You could probably pep up the magnet with a few small SmCo magnet discs attached to the ends of the horseshoe.

[feathercurls]

Thanks, I will try that.

I have remagnetised a magnet https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...8&postcount=18 see the rest of the thread for details, all good fun!

[feathercurls]

Thanks, sounds like fun!

[Ed_Dinning]

Hi Lucia, I couldn't easily see where you needed the sliding contact to be made, but a carbon brush out of a small motor should do the trick.

Ed

[Herald1360]

Originally Posted by merlinmaxwell

I have remagnetised a magnet https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...8&postcount=18 see the rest of the thread for details, all good fun!

Best to do the sparky bits at the other end of a thickish extension cable from the battery. (Keeps the possibility of any stray hydrogen oxygen mix in the battery from going bang to a minimum)

[Craig Sawyers]

Wow - "for nervous diseases". I'd feel even more nervous having been given a belt from that machine! Don't you just love Victorian quackery.

Nice restoration task.

[Herald1360]

DIY ECT?

[feathercurls]

Here is a video of me trying it on myself with LEDs in series. The LEDs are in opposite directions to let the AC output through. Notice how the LEDs flashing are synchronized with my twitching. Very invigorating

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abD4sBRfus8

[Mike Phelan]

Originally Posted by Herald1360

DIY ECT?

What's 'ECT'?

I've remagnetised a few things like this - yes, I know it's AC and yes, it is dangerous if you don't know what you are doing:

• Wind a few hundred turns of enamelled wire - say 30SWG - around the magnet.
• Make a lead with a 13A plug and a 5A fuse.
• Connect it to the coil you've made.
• Plug it in.

The fuse will blow, but it will blow when the current is at a maximum.

[McMurdo]

We've got one of these somewhere. What sort of voltage do they give out? I think the belt's gone in ours.

[Dave Moll]

Originally Posted by Mike Phelan

What's 'ECT'?

ElectroConvulsive Therapy. I'll refrain from expressing my opinions on the use of this treatment in the field of mental health, but it's a modern-day hangover from these Victorian quack therapies - definitely not to be attempted at home with an electric shock machine.

[Mike Phelan]

Thanks, Dave. I thought it wouldn't be H1360 speaking EBayese for 'et cetera'!

[feathercurls]

Judging by the instructions (complete with drawings!) it looks like the use was remarkably similar to a modern-day TENS machine, and not for ECT. The output also feels similar to a TENS machine.

I don't know how to measure the voltage, as it only gives little peaks of voltage with a low duty cycle.

[Dave Moll]

I would agree that a TENS machine is the modern-day equivalent - albeit more controllable.

If you really want to check the output voltage, try feeding it into an oscilloscope (probably with appropriate attenuation). The voltage, as well as the frequency, will be dependent upon the speed of cranking it.

And to decode another acronym, TENS "transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation", a weeny shock through the skin, fun for some I suppose.

[dseymo1]

TENS has proven pain-relief benefits. I'm not sure I'd call it fun, though

[Dave Moll]

Thanks for the reminder of the TENS acronym.

I can confirm the pain-relieving effects, having suffered joint and muscle pains for most of my life. I recall having its benefits back in my school days in the 1960s - though less sophisticated than my modern machine, and not (as far as I know) called TENS back then.

[Herald1360]

Originally Posted by McMurdo

I think the belt's gone in ours.

How apposite!