This is a small antique electric motor that I acquired at radio amateur swapmeet (hamfest). The motor appears to have been produced in the early 1900's and may had been sold as a toy. There is no manufacturer name anywhere on the motor. The motor frame is cast iron as is the armature (rotary portion). The field winding on the lower frame and the three windings on the armature are electrically in series, thus making the motor a universal motor that should run on alternating and direct current. The armature windings are connected via a three-segment commutator. All of the windings use cloth-covered wire suggesting the motor is of the early 1900's.
The picture below shows the rear of the motor. I had to repair one of the commutator brushes as the top one was broken. I made a replacement out of thin brass and used the original brush as a spring to maintian correct pressure on the commutator.
I attempted to power up the motor with a direct current power supply, but the supply I used could not supply sufficient current. I then used a toy electric train transformer as the power source and as able to make it move a tiny amount. It turns out the commutator was misaligned (improperly phased relative to the position of the armature windings). I slightly adjusted the alignment first clockwise and then counterclockwise and eventually got the motor to run. The motor will run on as little as eight to twelve volts rms alternating current. The video below shows the motor running with a Lionel train transformer.
