Novelty Merchantman Crane

[churchfayreuk]

After a few textings and a couple of calls I finally got to meet the guy and see the motor. It's a UK Replacement with gearbox
So we agreed a price and off I went - I was like a kid with a new toy, straight to the workshop to fit my find and bring the old man to life
short lived !!! It doesn't fit. The spacing is wrong and the gearbox fouls up on the mech.
So back to the drawing board - well this board. Now I need help. My waters have been wetted but I cannot get wet

Any help - need to be happy

[bob]

The way to go here is to go with an original 120 volt motor and gearbox that I think you were offered previously. This is the way the machines were operated originally in countries with a 240 volt supply, ie by adding a 240 to 120v stepdown transformer, rather than by replacing the motor and gearbox. The speed difference caused by the change from 50 to 60 cycles is minimal and is only of concern on jukeboxes where it affects the sound. By putting a light dimmer switch control in the circuit you can control the speed. There is no difficulty in keeping the light bulb supply separate and still at 240 volts.

[pennymachines]

Here's what was fitted as original on the UK export models - may be hard to find, but at least you'll know what you're looking for:

Dumore Type XAL (Spec No. 3211) manufactured by The Dumore Company, Racine, Wisconsin, USA.
Volts 240
Watts (not recorded)
Full Load Speed R.P.M. (not recorded)
Rating (not recorded)

The gear ratio is 40 to 1.

Alternatively, as Bob says, a stepped down 120 volt motor would suffice - a slower speed is no disadvantage on a home amusement crane.

[churchfayreuk]

That's the kiddy, is that in one of your machines?
I even have the original wooden block, and the nuts!!
I think the 110volt is going to be my only option. I'm sure at least I can keep looking.
As soon as I'm running I will post again. It's been great hearing from all, and THANK-YOU all very much,
Martin.

[operator bell]

Dumore Type XAL (Spec No. 3211) manufactured by The Dumore Company, Racine, Wisconsin, USA.
Volts 240
Watts (not recorded)
Full Load Speed R.P.M. (not recorded)
Rating (not recorded)

The gear ratio is 40 to 1.

From that spec and the look of it, I believe it's a shunt-wound motor with brushes and a commutator. That means its speed won't be affected by the 50/60 cycles difference, since these motors can run on AC or DC, but will be quite linear with voltage.

[grabber]

You could always send a message to James Roller, the crane man. I think he would know the spec. of these motors: http://www.jamesroller.com

[churchfayreuk]

Hi Guys, you have been outstanding in helping me with my quest.
There seems to be the general consensus that a 110v will do - so looking down those lines, not only here in the Good old UK, but now I've got friends far and wide scouting for me too (more Christmas cards on the list). One question - mounted on the underside of the play bed (top-mounted in workings door), I have what looks like a rheostat!!!
Is this to adjust the motor speed? (It's an 8 to 10 inch long black box with a slider),

Martin.

[operator bell]

One question - mounted on the underside of the play bed (top-mounted in workings door), I have what looks like a rheostat!!!
Is this to adjust the motor speed? (It's an 8 to 10 inch long black box with a slider)

Almost certainly, yes. That's standard for speed control of shunt motors. Put it in the 110V side of the circuit, not the 240.

[churchfayreuk]

Oh well it's Easter <well been and gone> Now I'm going to book a nervous breakdown in for April late!! It's been manic on my repair side. Everybody from South Shields Newcastle, right down to Weymouth has been serviced, NOW IT'S MY TIME!

The Merchantman is going to work by the end of April. I'm getting fed up showing everybody how it works by turning the spindle.
The last motor all though said was from one turned out to be too big on the output gearbox
So in my travels I've found a small 240 V with gearbox, so I'm hoping a bit of machining to accept the fly bar and using the rheostat reducer I can make the old man turn on its own steam.
I'm still looking for something more age related - someone must have one. Everybody I show it to says, "I remember them! But where are they now?"

Martin

[churchfayreuk]

The latest Up-date: Well like I said in my last post, it's going to be working by the end of April. Well it is.
I was digging through a mountain of old spares and came across, what I think was a old pusher motor. It looked like it might do my job! So wired it up on the bench to see the RPM and looked good to me, so off we go: cut a slit in the shaft and drilled a hole (nowhere near centre ha ha), and into the crane; fitted a small bolt through the drive shaft and fixed it down to the base; wired the motor through the Rheostat, stood well back and plugged it in.
It only bloody worked. Small adjustment on the tilt to correct the early stop, and Hey Presto!
It even sounds like what I think an old 1930s crane should sound like.
Now I'm as happy as a pig in the poo !!
I will post a couple of pics soon.
Still would like to find an original one (motor) if possible,
Martin

[arrgee]

Well done Martin, look forward to seeing the pics soon.

[churchfayreuk]

Motor in place:

[churchfayreuk]

I'm now on the lookout for some old 10ps at the local boot sales so I can use the fitted Simplex coin chute.
I've just called an electrician to see if they can get me some old braided flex to replace the rubber coated someone fitted, plus replace the motor flex.
Its great to have it working - I've called a local sign-writer I've used in the past who is going to repaint the rear dock picture. You can see the original outline and I have a picture from James Roller.
I know it's not the original motor but at the moment it's all that I have, and it works.

[badpenny]

Fantesticles!!!

[grabber]

Hi
There are some old Ten Pence's on ebay at the moment in the other coin operated section. Also I think you can get the material covered cable from B&Q.

[arrgee]

10p for a polystyrene prize !! you should be quids in Martin.

[malcymal]

I've got a bundle of old 2 shillings (Florin wasn't it?) somewhere in my collection of old coinage. Will have a look and see what I've got. Malc.

[pennymachines]

I've just called an electrician to see if they can get me some old braided flex to replace the rubber coated someone fitted, plus replace the motor flex.

Bryans fan recently put me onto ebay sellers, savoyradio and lampsandlights, who stock a good range of cloth-covered cables and braided lighting flex.

[gameswat]

Before I spend countless hours at the computer - does anybody have a copy of this original 1933 Novelty Merchanman background art? I managed to get some ok partial photos like this one from inside a friends machine years ago but these are quite faded too and it will be a decent job to restore. Mine has almost faded away to nothing, luckily the hidden areas behind the ship still show the original colours. Jim Roller sells a copy but that was all hand painted by someone and not close enough to interest me. Cheers.

[pennymachines]

It was my impression that these were hand painted on tin originally and are therefore all a bit different.

Anyway, I bought an old (unrestored) Merchantman a few years ago which had just that in the back of it. I scanned it (and filled in the bits which were cut out around the grab position indicator etc.), thinking that someone might find it useful, but never got around to uploading it. You're the second person to ask this year, so... here it is.
Hope it suits.