Electric Motors – Single Phase Capacitor Start and Capacitor Run Motors
A mid 20th century, high tech, 60 cycle capacitor-start motor, made possible by the electrolytic, chemical capacitor, equipped with ball bearings, totally enclosed, all steel body with slotted, rigid base for general utility applications in damp environments , Century, Circa 1958.
Features:
Original electrical connector illustrating trade practices of the period
Technical Significance:
The motor exemplifies increasingly sophisticated developments in the field of electrolytic condensers, on which the capacitor start motor depended for its performance. Capacitors were getting smaller and more reliable, through the 1950’s.
Exemplifies the design and engineering of general utility, totally enclosed, ball bearing applications engineered for damp locations.
Industrial Significance:
Early experimentation, leading to the eventual commercial development of the FHP, capacitor start-motor, began with the work of Steinnmetz [American engineer and inventor 1865 – 1923], 40 years before. But commercial production had to await the development of practical capacitors of sufficient capacity, the chemical, electrolytic capacitor. Early, paper capacitors, large enough to provide the required phase shift for motor starting, where larger than the motor itself, and were subject to short operating life span [see Reference 3]
