The Player Page

As a hobby I enjoy listening and restoring Player and Reproducing Pianos and other Mechanical Musical Instruments. Occasionaly I will post information related to these devices here.

A friend on the Mechanical Music Digest asked if anyone had data on the starting current for an Ampico Reproducing Piano. Since I had the bottom board from an Amipco upright with a good motor and a working if not really good pump available I made some measurements to send him. On the chance that anyuone else might be interested in this information I'm placing it here.

The motor and pump are on the bottom board from an upright Stoddard Ampico. The pump is functional, but needs to be rebuilt. The maximum vacuum with the spill valve and all ports sealed is 74 inches of water. The motor has been tested, cleaned and lubricated. The windings were checked for shorts to the frame and shorted turns. The motor does not appear to have been overhauled or rewound.

The bearings appear to be in good condition as shown by a lack of excessive play, a long coasting time when power is removed and the slight "roll back" upon stopping. The motor runs quietly with no significant vibration.

The motor name plate has the data below:

MADE EXPRESSLY

FOR

AMERICAN PIANO CO.

NEW YORK

ALTERNATING CURRENT MOTOR

CONTINUOUS DUTY

1/12 HP         110 VOLTS
1.9 AMPERES     60 CYCLES
1 PHASE         1140 RPM

STYLE 71A69B

SERIAL NUMBER 2739928

WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC & MFG. CO.

The motor was operated under four loading conditions and the following data was recorded:

Starting:

1 cycle non repetitive peak current (+ & -)

Average current for first 50 mS

RMS volts during first 50 mS

Average current for first 100 mS

Steady state running:

Steady state current

Steady state Power

Steady state Power Factor

Steady state RMS voltage

Load Case conditions

1. No load, belt to pump disconnected from motor pulley.

2. Belt to pump connected, vacuum connections blocked. The spill valve was set to produce 20 inches of vacuum.

3. Belt to pump connected, vacuum connections blocked, a small opening in one vacuum port was set to just allow maintenance of 20 inches vacuum.

4. All vacuum openings, including spill valve blocked, vacuum was 74 inches water.

Test results:

Load Case 1:

Starting:

1 cycle non repetitive peak current (+ & -): 24.4 Amps + and - average.

The actual + and - readings vary considerably depending on the instantaneous voltage when the motor is connected.

Average current for first 50 mS: 18.3 Amps.

RMS volts during first 50 mS: 115 Volts

Average current for first 100 mS: 15.9 Amps

Steady state running:

Steady state current 1.99 Amps.

Steady state Power 58.5 Watts

Steady state Power Factor 0.24

Steady state RMS voltage 121 Volts

Load Case 2:

Starting

1 cycle non repetitive peak current (+ & -): 25.5 Amps + and - average.

The actual + and - readings vary considerably depending on the instantaneous voltage when the motor is connected.

Average current for first 50 mS: 18.5 Amps.

RMS volts during first 50 mS: 115 Volts

Average current for first 100 mS: 16.1 Amps

Steady state running:

Steady state current 2.19 Amps.

Steady state Power 148.2 Watts

Steady state Power Factor 0.54

Steady state RMS voltage 121 Volts

Load Case 3:

No significant difference from Load Case 2.

Load case 4:

Starting current and voltage was the same as Load Case 2.

Steady state running:

Steady state current 2.54 Amps.

Steady state Power 192.1 Watts

Steady state Power Factor 0.68

Steady state RMS voltage 121 Volts

Although it has taken a while, here are a few pictures of the motor and nameplate.

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All photos and text Copyright 2005 - 2006 W. Johnson