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Antique P.E. Chapman Electric Company St. Louis Growler For Fan Motors  Rating:  Rating
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 Posted: Sat Mar 7th, 2015 12:37 am
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Stefan Osdene
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Antique P.E. Chapman growler for motor repairs. The perfect companion for your Emerson fan. Appears complete except for one missing screw. Untested. Asking $65 plus shipping. SOLD.

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Last edited on Sat Mar 7th, 2015 04:04 pm by Stefan Osdene

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 Posted: Sat Mar 7th, 2015 12:37 am
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Stefan Osdene
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Second Image.

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 Posted: Sat Mar 7th, 2015 12:38 am
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Stefan Osdene
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Third Image.

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 Posted: Sat Mar 7th, 2015 01:54 am
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Cory Baughn
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Can I ask what it does in motor repair? I am intrigued to say the least!

**** I did research and found out how it works. Neat piece for sure. 

Last edited on Sat Mar 7th, 2015 02:04 am by Cory Baughn

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 Posted: Sat Mar 7th, 2015 04:07 pm
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Stefan Osdene
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Chapman led the industry in the production of growlers for testing motor windings. Their location in St. Louis and proximity to Emerson, Wagner, Century, Valley, Baldor, and other manufacturers created a great market for their products. They also made motor winding equipment, much of which Emerson used to produce their fan motors.

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 Posted: Mon Mar 9th, 2015 12:58 am
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Bill Hoehn
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Thanks Stefan,

As mentioned and pictured before, P. E. Chapman invented the growler, and practically every motor manufacturer in the world used his winding machines, because they were responsible for 80% of all motors made.

It just closed a few years ago and Warren and I were at the auction and won and were given many things.  Repeating myself but I still have the prototype Emerson winding machine that he used.  It was half buried in the dirt floor of their basement. I don't know what to do with all of their wood and metal printing blocks.

He was a buddy of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford, camped with them and helped develop the first electrical systems for the auto industry.

Some of the pieces we got were experimental and never went into production.

I'm fortunate to have won at another auction (Bradford Electric of East St. Louis), a complete working winding machine of Chapman's.  I see many of his motor vices in use by some of our members. 

One day while visiting, the phone rang and the then owner was asked by someone from the Middle East for a part that had finally worn out. This rarely happened because they were so heavily overdesigned and made.  I heard him say "we'll ship it tomorrow".

They kept very close records of every machine ever sold, and bought them back and reconditioned them whenever possible.

After Mr. Chapman died his employees, some in their 90's, just kept coming to work until a new buyer was found who was a retired gentleman from Anheuser-Bush.  His son is an artist and had no interest in keeping the company, so it was liquidated.

Sorry for the repetition, but I think I have added a few more memories. I won't bother everyone with a bunch of photos unless someone like Larry wants them. 

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 Posted: Mon Mar 9th, 2015 01:10 am
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William Dunlap
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I understood that the term "Growler" referred to the sound these gadgets make while in operation.
The tag on this suggest that might not be the case.
I've used them before, but much larger bench mounted types. Very handy if you have a lot of armatures to test.
Cheers,Bill

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 Posted: Mon Mar 9th, 2015 01:21 am
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Don Tener
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Bill Hoehn wrote:  I won't bother everyone with a bunch of photos unless someone like Larry wants them. 
I think photos would be great. I would like to see the machines you are talking about.

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 Posted: Mon Mar 9th, 2015 02:02 am
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Bill Hoehn
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Hello William,

I just lost my reply so I'll try again. 

The larger bench model growlers were first made by the Martindale Electric Co. of Cleveland Ohio. 

Mr. Chapman told me about their early lawsuit in which part of the settlement was that Chapman would make only the small handheld units and Martindale only the bench models. The Chapman uses the vibrating metal "finger" and works very well.  I have the original instructions somewhere.

The Armature Rewinding Co., Inc. of 3301 Washington Blvd., St Louis, Mo. also made a small bench model, but called it an Armature Tester instead of a growler.

Last edited on Mon Mar 9th, 2015 02:04 am by Bill Hoehn

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 Posted: Mon Mar 9th, 2015 02:09 am
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Bill Hoehn
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Don,

The winding machine is large and heavy.  I'll post photos sometime.

George Durbin was thinking about stopping today and I could have used him, again, but he couldn't make it.  Did you warn him of the work?

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 Posted: Mon Mar 9th, 2015 02:45 am
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Bill Hoehn
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Don,

 Here is the Chapman like Stefan's with a ruler for perspective;

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 Posted: Mon Mar 9th, 2015 02:47 am
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Bill Hoehn
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The Martindale with movable "jaws" for different size armatures;

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 Posted: Mon Mar 9th, 2015 02:49 am
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Bill Hoehn
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& the Armature Tester.

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 Posted: Mon Mar 9th, 2015 02:56 am
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Bill Hoehn
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Went out to charge the '69 Dodge Daytona and Magnum SRT-8 and took a few pictures of the Chapman winding machine. They are cluttered because some of these motors weigh 400 # +.

The big green machine is the Chapman---not the Daytona!

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 Posted: Mon Mar 9th, 2015 02:57 am
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Bill Hoehn
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The top half;

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 Posted: Mon Mar 9th, 2015 02:58 am
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Bill Hoehn
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& the tag.

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 Posted: Mon Mar 9th, 2015 04:06 am
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Don Tener
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Bill Hoehn wrote: The top half;It would be cool to see it working. Thanks for posting the pics.

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 Posted: Mon Mar 9th, 2015 05:08 am
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Russ Huber
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.

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 Posted: Mon Mar 9th, 2015 05:09 am
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Russ Huber
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.

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 Posted: Mon Mar 9th, 2015 06:17 am
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Russ Huber
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.

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 Posted: Mon Mar 9th, 2015 06:18 am
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Russ Huber
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.

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 Posted: Mon Mar 9th, 2015 06:19 am
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Russ Huber
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Peerless Electric Co. of Warren, OH.

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 Posted: Mon Mar 9th, 2015 06:21 am
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Russ Huber
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https://docs.google.com/viewer?url=patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/pdfs/US709179.pdf

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 Posted: Mon Mar 9th, 2015 07:49 am
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Russ Huber
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Electric Light and Power - Volume 3 - Page 217




1925 - ‎Snippet viewChapman Internal Growler STATORS from fan sizes up to 50 hp. can be tested by the Chapman internal growler, introduced by the P. E. Chapman Electrical Vorks, 1820 Chouteau Ave., St. Louis, M0. The device will also test armatures.

The growler in the patent image was introduced to the market in 31. Chapman had an armature tester prior to 31.

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Last edited on Mon Mar 9th, 2015 07:55 am by Russ Huber

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 Posted: Mon Mar 9th, 2015 09:12 pm
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Stefan Osdene
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Bill and Russ: thanks for sharing the historical background on P.E. Chapman. Much appreciated!

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 Posted: Tue Mar 10th, 2015 04:09 pm
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Don Tener
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Stefan Osdene wrote: Bill and Russ: thanks for sharing the historical background on P.E. Chapman. Much appreciated!Ditto

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 Posted: Wed Mar 11th, 2015 02:48 am
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Bill Hoehn
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Going to try scanning some old photos of Chapman's and a couple of fan related postcards first.  Many of our old-timer's will remember Acme Electric. They were located where the arch is now.

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 Posted: Wed Mar 11th, 2015 02:50 am
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Bill Hoehn
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Another postcard.

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 Posted: Wed Mar 11th, 2015 02:54 am
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Bill Hoehn
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Back to the serious business.  This is the prototype Emerson motor used by P. E. Chapman to develop his first winding machine.  Note the bicycle chain from the late 1800s to drive the counter.  This was gear driven in his final machines. 

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Last edited on Wed Mar 11th, 2015 03:55 am by Bill Hoehn

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 Posted: Wed Mar 11th, 2015 02:56 am
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Bill Hoehn
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It was right side up in my scan!

The nameplate.

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 Posted: Wed Mar 11th, 2015 02:57 am
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Bill Hoehn
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And my Sterling descriptive plate.

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 Posted: Wed Mar 11th, 2015 03:07 am
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Bill Hoehn
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Next are a few printing blocks, a piece off a winding machine and a light socket which hung from the ceiling of Chapman Electric.  I have never seen another like it.  I always admired it when I visited, and when they closed the owner gave it to me.  It is ingenious in that it pulls the chain straight out of the socket when the string was pulled.  I hope someone can tell me about it so I don't have to clean it to find out!

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 Posted: Wed Mar 11th, 2015 03:11 am
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Bill Hoehn
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Some of Chapman's literature showing a few of their products. Note the U. S. Government literature holders---WW II?

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 Posted: Wed Mar 11th, 2015 03:15 am
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Bill Hoehn
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Lastly, at least for now, one of their winding "heads".  It weighs about 20 # and shows the extremely heavy construction for winding the fine wire used in stators and armatures for our fan motors.

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 Posted: Wed Mar 11th, 2015 07:48 am
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Charlie Forster
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I have one like the top pictures
P.E. Chapman
type 9225
 internal -external on the handle
I used it on the Robbins & Myers fan I had to re insulate the stator earlier this yr.
  I have a very early bench model that so far I could find no name on it .
It has the white porcelain  bulb socket and switch on it  must be from the 20's era it has 120 volt continuity test probes that the handles are wood.
 if any one would be interested I can get some pictures.
 here is one on ebay that is very similar, this one looks to have Bakelite bulb socket and switch .
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Primitive-Antique-Growler-Armature-Tester-Electrical-Testing-Device-T9-/221701984331?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item339e77d04b.
  http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-ARMATURE-GROWLER-110-VOLT-TRIPLE-A-SPECIALTY-CO-/371273450252?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item56719f430c


the way these  looks on ebay I wouldn't  be afraid to use them.
I am in no way connected to the sellerS.

Last edited on Wed Mar 11th, 2015 08:18 am by Charlie Forster

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 Posted: Wed Mar 11th, 2015 10:34 am
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Cory Baughn
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Bill Hoehn wrote: Next are a few printing blocks, a piece off a winding machine and a light socket which hung from the ceiling of Chapman Electric.  I have never seen another like it.  I always admired it when I visited, and when they closed the owner gave it to me.  It is ingenious in that it pulls the chain straight out of the socket when the string was pulled.  I hope someone can tell me about it so I don't have to clean it to find out!

So the chain comes out of that little arm sticking out? What is the curved part of it? Having a hard time wrapping my head around how that socket is put together. 
I would definitely clean it up though to the point of being useable (although don't remove the patina) and hang that thing up somewhere around the house. A nice shop or a "man cave" (I hate that phrase and hate using it) would be the best place to me. I'd hang the thing in my room though. :D

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 Posted: Wed Mar 11th, 2015 11:01 am
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Bill Hoehn
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Cory,

 I see someone else has trouble sleeping!

That light socket works, and was in use when he gave it to me.  The pull string goes in the curved end and the pivot is the other end (straight) of the same piece, causing the chain to come straight out when pulled.  I'll picture if wanted!

We need the third sleepless "Musketeer", Russ, to join us with the patents!!!

Last edited on Wed Mar 11th, 2015 11:09 am by Bill Hoehn

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 Posted: Wed Mar 11th, 2015 11:58 am
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Cory Baughn
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Yes sir! I am a night owl, I can never sleep. Ever.

And I would love some pictures. I think that is such a neat socket.

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 Posted: Wed Mar 11th, 2015 02:25 pm
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Bill Hoehn
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Hi Cory,

First with the chain pulled;

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 Posted: Wed Mar 11th, 2015 02:31 pm
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Bill Hoehn
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Next with a little "crud" removed (sorry---"patina"); Shows PAT PEND and the "glow in the dark" end of the pull cord---probably irradiated---not working now.

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