The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

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!

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?

I guess that in those days, Monsanto was more into "wound up" than Roundup.

Another early example of Monsanto's GMO products...

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.

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.

Have you tried contacting Monsanto to see if they might have info? I'm really curious what they were used for.

Best,
Fran

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

The 'VIS' markings suggest that it might have been used as a viscosimeter of some sort?

- Bill

Monsanto Chemical Works was renamed Monsanto Chemical Company in 1933.

James.