A rare bird (here!) - Bell and Gossett

[Lars Hansen]

Hi.
Just bumped into this bench grinder/motor. I've never seen (noticed) the brand before here in Europe.
The previous owner has no idea where it came from, but I guess it started out as a pump and later modified to a bench grinder.
The motor itself weighs around 15 pounds and it takes a max. of 6" wheel.
The spindle has a right hand thread telling me that the label might be correct and the thing wasn't born as a grinder.
If someone is able to make a qualified guess as to how old it is, please let me know.
I haven't started taking it apart yet. If someone has a tips to share, please do. Guess the bearings will be imperial size, so I'm a bit exited to see if I can find them around here.
The business end is closed with a disc that looks like it's cast iron. Readable text says
"B&G 128-52" and the two signs visible on photo #3.

Thanks for any help.

Your's,
Lars

 

[Jim Reynolds]

When I searched on the internet I came across the webpage below. I appears that the company is still in business in the same town. They are part of a larger enterprise Xylem. I wish you good luck in your search.

 

[Lars Hansen]

Thanks Jim. Unfortunately none of the data on the motor label seem to lead to any useful info.
Here's the disc I mentioned.

 

[Richard Coers]

Says right on the motor label it's an air compressor motor. https://www.ebay.com/itm/203702502559

 

[Lars Hansen]

Yes, right, a compressor, not a pump, my bad.

 

[Darryl Fective]

Yes, right, a compressor, not a pump, my bad.

But a compressor *is* a pump.

 

[odie]

Unfortunately none of the data on the motor label seem to lead to any useful info.

There is no zip code, so it's date of manufacture is likely prior to 1963, and still using slotted screws (bolt heads)......so, could be much earlier than that.

-o-

 

[Tim Hunter]

Right-hand threads are unacceptable on the left side of a grinder. It was indeed an air pump to start with.

The patent dates back to 1957.

Tim

 

[Bob Vaughan]

My mother's house, built in 1952 had a B&G motor on the hot water heat system. I've seen a lot of those old motors over the years, most of which had a rather short shaft. Most of them I've seen were painted red and were built for a specific purpose.

 

[Don Wattenhofer]

According to the name plate it is 1/12 HP which to European's would mean 62 watts or as a grinder very under powered. I would say it isn't worth anything as a grinder.

 

[Lars Hansen]

@ Odie: Thanks.
@ Tim: Agree. The wheel was locked with two nuts.
@ Don: Agree. I thought it was a 1/2 hp. Lesson learned: Remember to wear glasses. Impressive weight for such a weak motor.

 

[Doug Rasmussen]

I haven't started taking it apart yet. If someone has a tips to share, please do.

Why are you considering taking it apart?

There are a few reasons already mentioned to conclude it didn't start life as a bench grinder. One more reason is that part of the tool rest assembly extends lower than the motor's base. That would be unusual in a bench grinder requiring it to be mounted on the edge of a bench. Also, the cast iron disc might be intended as a flywheel.

I have a stranger situation. It's a Craftsman sander, 1x42 belt on the right end and originally had a missing sanding disc on the left end. Looking at the motor from the front where the motor label and the switch are both shaft ends were threaded in the wrong direction. And the motor turned in the wrong direction. A puzzle.... There seemed to be no reason or solution to make it right. This is one the old classic flat faced grinder motors that were standard with Craftsman for decades until they went with the 3rd world round grinder motors.

After thinking about the situation for a long while it occured to me the take the motor apart. The surprise is those motor armatures are symmetrical end for end. For some unknown reason somebody had purposely reversed the armature.

 

[Pat Wisniewski]

B&G made a lot of motors and circulators for hydronic heating systems

 

[Lars Hansen]

@ Doug: Only because the bearings are way past their best-before-day. But as Don pointed out, it's way underpowered for the grinding job, so I may skip buying new bearings - unless I get an idea for an alternative use.