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Other Vintage Household Electrical or Electromechanical Items For discussions about other vintage (over 25 years old) electrical and electromechanical household items. See the sticky thread for details. |
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18th May 2011, 11:21 am | #1 |
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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....
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18th May 2011, 11:51 am | #2 |
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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. |
18th May 2011, 12:10 pm | #3 |
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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 |
18th May 2011, 12:16 pm | #4 |
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Re: Electrotherapy machine
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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18th May 2011, 12:18 pm | #5 |
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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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18th May 2011, 12:41 pm | #6 |
Octode
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Re: Electrotherapy machine
How about the winding handle from a grandfather clock? The end will need remaking but might be worth a try
Malcolm |
18th May 2011, 1:19 pm | #7 |
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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 |
18th May 2011, 1:31 pm | #8 |
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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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18th May 2011, 1:45 pm | #9 |
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Re: Electrotherapy machine
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18th May 2011, 1:52 pm | #10 |
Pentode
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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. |
18th May 2011, 3:25 pm | #11 |
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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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18th May 2011, 3:29 pm | #12 |
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Re: Electrotherapy machine
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18th May 2011, 3:37 pm | #13 |
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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 |
18th May 2011, 3:47 pm | #14 | |
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Re: Electrotherapy machine
Quote:
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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18th May 2011, 4:49 pm | #15 |
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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 |
18th May 2011, 5:12 pm | #16 |
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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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19th May 2011, 9:27 am | #17 | |
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Re: Electrotherapy machine
Quote:
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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19th May 2011, 9:42 am | #18 |
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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. |
19th May 2011, 12:20 pm | #19 |
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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.
Malcolm |
19th May 2011, 6:57 pm | #20 |
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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 ... |