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Old 18th May 2011, 11:21 am   #1
ppppenguin
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Default Electrotherapy machine

This rather nice little device was donated to the B&B at the NVCF. It should be fine with very little work. I guess it's quite early, 1880s?

Questions....
  • The crank handle is missing. Any ideas for a replacement?
  • The leather belt has stretched and is slipping. Ideas on how to fix please.
  • The purple velvety cloth covering on the coils looks non-original. Suggests that the coils were rewound at some point. Thoughts please?
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Old 18th May 2011, 11:51 am   #2
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Smile Re: Electrotherapy machine

Hi PPPPenguin,

The purple covers are the correct ones ! I have one of these at home, but the box is missing its top and it's in bit of a mess, however it works.
Mine is also missing its crank handle and the leather belt was replaced (by me) with a slightly stretchy shoe lace tied in a flat(ish) knot !
Mid / Late Victorian is about right.
I'm always supprised how many of these still exist.

Cheers,
Alan.
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Old 18th May 2011, 12:10 pm   #3
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Default Re: Electrotherapy machine

Hi Alan, Do you use your machine daily ? I would imagine it would be of great benefit for your nervous problems and absolutely wonderful for easing toothache please keep us updated with your progress . I really must start saving so I can acquire one and reap the wonderful benefits for myself.

Last edited by Dave Moll; 18th May 2011 at 12:29 pm. Reason: unnecessary full quote of preceding post removed
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Old 18th May 2011, 12:16 pm   #4
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Default Re: Electrotherapy machine

Quote:
Originally Posted by ppppenguin View Post
The crank handle is missing. Any ideas for a replacement?
I can't quite see what the crank spindle looks like, but wonder whether the handle from a telephone magneto (such as the one pictured below from a CB935 switchboard - no, I'm afraid it's just shown as an example, not being offered) might fit if you can get hold of one.

Measuring the threaded hole, it appears in the region of 0.2 inch.
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Old 18th May 2011, 12:18 pm   #5
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Default Re: Electrotherapy machine

Given a suitable handle it could be retapped or sleeved and retapped to suit the thread on the shaft.
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Old 18th May 2011, 12:41 pm   #6
Malcolm G6ANZ
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Default Re: Electrotherapy machine

How about the winding handle from a grandfather clock? The end will need remaking but might be worth a try

Malcolm
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Old 18th May 2011, 1:19 pm   #7
Lucien Nunes
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Default Re: Electrotherapy machine

Not sure whether the handles of the two sizes of machine of machine are identical, but we've got the small version and you're welcome to reverse-engineer our handle for copying purposes next time you're in this neck of the woods. Our coil covering is blue velvet but IIRC I've seen green and possibly black as well.

Perhaps you could cut a section out of the belt and superglue it back together?

Lucien
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Old 18th May 2011, 1:31 pm   #8
60 oldjohn
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Default Re: Electrotherapy machine

You could try treating the belt with Castor Oil. It used to be used in agriculture to stop belts slipping. John.
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Old 18th May 2011, 1:45 pm   #9
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Default Re: Electrotherapy machine

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Originally Posted by 60 oldjohn View Post
You could try treating the belt with Castor Oil. It used to be used in agriculture to stop belts slipping. John.
There is some stuff sold in an aerosol to stop belts slipping try the classic car parts suppliers HTH
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Old 18th May 2011, 1:52 pm   #10
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Smile Re: Electrotherapy machine

Hi Mikelect,

I use my machine for special occasions, it puts a proper smile on my face and I can light fluorescent tubes while I'm doing it

Cheers,
Alan.
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Old 18th May 2011, 3:25 pm   #11
60 oldjohn
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Default Re: Electrotherapy machine

Mike I suspect what you have seen is for the rubberized type of fan belts used in cars. I have some ISC but I think it works by softening the rubber. I'm not sure how it would work on leather. John.
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Old 18th May 2011, 3:29 pm   #12
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Default Re: Electrotherapy machine

Quote:
Originally Posted by BassoonBloke View Post
...I use my machine for special occasions, it puts a proper smile on my face .....
Must make the old bassoon hit an unnaturally high note

Thanks to all of you for your help. Lucien, I thought I'd seen one of them before, now I know where.
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Old 18th May 2011, 3:37 pm   #13
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Default Re: Electrotherapy machine

Looks like there were other very similar machines:

http://www.electrotherapymuseum.com/...SF/Magneto.htm

http://www.electrotherapymuseum.com/...ines/index.htm
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Old 18th May 2011, 3:47 pm   #14
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Default Re: Electrotherapy machine

Quote:
Originally Posted by BassoonBloke View Post
Hi Mikelect,

I use my machine for special occasions, it puts a proper smile on my face and I can light fluorescent tubes while I'm doing it

Cheers,
Alan.

Hi Alan, I'm pleased to see that you are carrying out some serious research into fluorescent lighting while enjoying using your machine it really makes me proud to be British it is that kind of dedication to duty that helped to build the British Empire !!
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Old 18th May 2011, 4:49 pm   #15
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Default Re: Electrotherapy machine

I've got one of these - the purple has faded and there's no nice label inside the lid. The magnet is a bit weak but you get short spikes of around 100V peak which you can feel!

Ging
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Old 18th May 2011, 5:12 pm   #16
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Default Re: Electrotherapy machine

More eveidence that there were lots of variations on a theme. Compared to mine, yours has the handle on the right rather than the left, a gear system to increase the speed, a locka and key for the lid and wooden handles on the electrodes.
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Old 19th May 2011, 9:27 am   #17
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Default Re: Electrotherapy machine

Quote:
Originally Posted by Malcolm G6ANZ View Post
How about the winding handle from a grandfather clock? The end will need remaking but might be worth a try

Malcolm
They are in short supply and reproductions are rather expensive, apart from the fact that the female end is a square.

I'd just make one from scrapbox bits.

Jeffrey, what section is the belt; I'd guess a U-shaped groove in the pulley?
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Old 19th May 2011, 9:42 am   #18
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Default Re: Electrotherapy machine

The belt is flat, about 3mm across. It runs in an untidy way in a V groove in the big pulley. It slips nicely in a rather wider V groove in the small pulley.

The shaft for the handle is 5.7mm o/d (definitely smaller than 0.25") and the thread looks a bit like BSW.
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Old 19th May 2011, 12:20 pm   #19
Malcolm G6ANZ
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Default Re: Electrotherapy machine

Mike, I was thinking of the ones from Meadows and Massmore. http://www.medmaw.com/cgi-bin/medmaw/medmaw.cgi Near the bottom of the page.

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Old 19th May 2011, 6:57 pm   #20
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Default Re: Electrotherapy machine

If the belt is anything like ones in Phonographs ,then it should be easy to fix or replace .I made my phonograph one . You may be able to shorten it to fit . You have to splice it .
Sharp knife , cut what is called a "scarf joint" in timber , a tapered cut on both pieces so they can be glued and remain the same thickness ...
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