Skip to main content

I purchased a NOS armature for a five-digit Hudson or Northern (e.g. 21130 or 21139) and am surprised to see the shaft is bronze or copper in color instead of silver (steel).  I've never seen that before with a Gilbert AF armature.  Have you?  What might be the explanation for this?  Thanks.

 

IMG_2145

 

Attachments

Images (1)
  • AF 3/4" barrel commutator armature: with bronze/copper colored shaft
Last edited by Sgaugian
Original Post

Replies sorted oldest to newest

Originally Posted by Sgaugian:

I purchased a NOS armature for a five-digit Hudson or Northern (e.g. 21130 or 21139) and am surprised to see the shaft is bronze or copper in color instead of silver (steel).  I've never seen that before with a Gilbert AF armature.  Have you?  What might be the explanation for this?  Thanks.

 

 

 

 SG,

 

Are you sure it's bronze?  Use a magnet on it to determine if it's steel or not.  My guess is that the armature, being NOS and rather old, has acquired a bit of "patina" over time, and the color is reflecting that.  Try cleaning the shaft very carefully with a bit of solvent.  Then lubricate with a good Teflon or lithium grease, and instal.  Also make sure there is electrical conductivity between the commutator segments.

 

Congrats on obtaining an NOS piece, by the way!  Hope it runs well for you!

 

Jerry Poniatowski

Wayne, MI

if the shaft is magnetic (indicating it is steel), my guess is that the shaft may have missed a step in the chrome plating process.  In some chrome plating processes, a layer of copper is plated before the chrome is applied.  It could be that the chrome was never applied to this shaft and the defect was not caught before the shaft was assembled into a complete armature.

 

or it could simply be dirty or coated with an oily film.

Last edited by sgriggs

Add Reply

Post

OGR Publishing, Inc., 1310 Eastside Centre Ct, Suite 6, Mountain Home, AR 72653
800-980-OGRR (6477)
www.ogaugerr.com

×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×
×