This recent discussion about electric motors is very timely for me.
My 1935 George Steck Ampico A/B in recent days seems to have developed
some problems in its roll drive motor.  Advice would be appreciated.

This past weekend, I noticed that intermittently I had to nudge the
take-up spool to get it started, then all seems okay.  I've just
removed the right hand drawer cover and noticed (and heard) some
sparking (arcing?) inside the motor in the area I believe would be the
brushes.  I can't of course see inside the motor while still installed,
but I can see the sparking reflections in the shiny black rear surface
of the drawer.

Is the motor simply telling me that time has come to replace the
brushes?  If so, are such brushes readily available, and from what
kind of local merchant?  While I have the motor out, what additional
servicing should be done to it at the same time?  Thoughts of others?

Thanks

Terry Smythe                   smythe@mts.net
55 Rowand Avenue               smythe@mbnet.mb.ca
Winnipeg, MB, Canada  R3J 2N6  (204) 832-3982
http://www.mts.net/~smythe

 [ The motor in the Ampico B is known as "series-wound small appliance
 [ motor".  I took my motor to a small-appliance repair shop and they
 [ matched the brushes.  While it was apart I cleaned the bushings
 [ and shafts, ready for fresh oil.  The next time it needs brushes
 [ I'll turn the commutator smooth.
 [
 [ I also connected ceramic capacitors (.001 ufd 1600v) from each
 [ brush holder to the case, and installed a resistor-capacitor
 [ spark suppresser across the governor points.  That completely
 [ eliminated the interference to the neighbor's TV receiver, and
 [ even in the room next to the piano TV reception was tolerable.
 [ That was in 1958 BC (Before Cable-TV ! :).   -- Robbie