Victrola Motors Repurposed by Monsanto??
- CDBPDX
- Victor V
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Victrola Motors Repurposed by Monsanto??
I recently acquired some interesting phono related items and am curious about them. Apparently, Monsanto used modified Victrola motors to power devices used in their production of glues and adhesives. Any info about these would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!
Cliff's Vintage Music Shoppe, Castle Rock, WA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIz_IpaVrW8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIz_IpaVrW8
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- Victor VI
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Re: Victrola Motors Repurposed by Monsanto??
Oh, now this is just fascinating.
What are the power output shafts from the motors going into? Are they running a little blower, an agitator, an automatic stirrer or something? Is it hooked up to a little centrifuge?
Neat artifacts-- Wonder just what they might have been for?
What are the power output shafts from the motors going into? Are they running a little blower, an agitator, an automatic stirrer or something? Is it hooked up to a little centrifuge?
Neat artifacts-- Wonder just what they might have been for?
- AZ*
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Re: Victrola Motors Repurposed by Monsanto??
I guess that in those days, Monsanto was more into "wound up" than Roundup.
Best regards ... AZ*
- Curt A
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Re: Victrola Motors Repurposed by Monsanto??
Another early example of Monsanto's GMO products...
"The phonograph is not of any commercial value."
Thomas Alva Edison - Comment to his assistant, Samuel Insull.
"No one needs a Victrola XX, a Perfected Graphophone Type G, or whatever you call those noisy things."
My Wife
Thomas Alva Edison - Comment to his assistant, Samuel Insull.
"No one needs a Victrola XX, a Perfected Graphophone Type G, or whatever you call those noisy things."
My Wife
- CDBPDX
- Victor V
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- Contact:
Re: Victrola Motors Repurposed by Monsanto??
The motors are mounted in well made custom wooden boxes and have been modified, thus: the spindles have been cut off and the ends tapped/threaded so the cylinder thingys can be secured to the cut off spindle with bolts. There is an added on/off lever soldered or welded onto the motor frame, the speed adjust is modified but still functioning. The boxes have a hole drilled on the side to accommodate the winding crank. The boxes all appear to be made the same, but the hinge and clasp hardware appears to be different, not all the same. The folks that made these must have been using whatever was available, there doesn't seem to be an assembly line production of the devices. The serial numbers on the ID plates are VIS- E, VIS 31, and VIS 55.
Cliff's Vintage Music Shoppe, Castle Rock, WA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIz_IpaVrW8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIz_IpaVrW8
- fran604g
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Re: Victrola Motors Repurposed by Monsanto??
Have you tried contacting Monsanto to see if they might have info? I'm really curious what they were used for.CDBPDX wrote:The motors are mounted in well made custom wooden boxes and have been modified, thus: the spindles have been cut off and the ends tapped/threaded so the cylinder thingys can be secured to the cut off spindle with bolts. There is an added on/off lever soldered or welded onto the motor frame, the speed adjust is modified but still functioning. The boxes have a hole drilled on the side to accommodate the winding crank. The boxes all appear to be made the same, but the hinge and clasp hardware appears to be different, not all the same. The folks that made these must have been using whatever was available, there doesn't seem to be an assembly line production of the devices. The serial numbers on the ID plates are VIS- E, VIS 31, and VIS 55.
Best,
Fran
Francis; "i" for him, "e" for her
"Even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while" - the unappreciative supervisor.
"Even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while" - the unappreciative supervisor.
- CDBPDX
- Victor V
- Posts: 2005
- Joined: Sun Feb 12, 2012 10:43 am
- Personal Text: A Hobbyist Specializing in Sales and Repair of Spring Motor Phonographs
- Location: Castle Rock, WA
- Contact:
Re: Victrola Motors Repurposed by Monsanto??
Finally got around to getting one of these machines running. Also did a bit of poking around and came up with this theory - these were used as mixers of some sort. I believe a jar was inserted into the rotating can and rotated while something stationary was inserted to cause the contents to be mixed, stirred. There seems to be room in the front of the box for a couple jars. Also, I discovered the cabinets have adjustable pegs sticking out the bottom, possibly for leveling?
Anyway, here is a video of the one I got running. Top speed is about 30 rpm, not too fast.
https://youtu.be/rqmpFsZGoMk
Cliff
Anyway, here is a video of the one I got running. Top speed is about 30 rpm, not too fast.
https://youtu.be/rqmpFsZGoMk
Cliff
Cliff's Vintage Music Shoppe, Castle Rock, WA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIz_IpaVrW8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIz_IpaVrW8
- Lucius1958
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Re: Victrola Motors Repurposed by Monsanto??
The 'VIS' markings suggest that it might have been used as a viscosimeter of some sort?
- Bill
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Re: Victrola Motors Repurposed by Monsanto??
Monsanto Chemical Works was renamed Monsanto Chemical Company in 1933.
James.
James.