Apex problem

[hooverbaby]

I've recently won a Vintage Apex upright from the US dating from about 1920. Only thing is the seller is having trouble getting the upper wooden handle off the metal fork below and says he needs to do this to ship within suitable limits.

I emailed him to say I'd give him some advice if he sends pictures showing the handle fixing arrangement in more detail, since I've not had this model before, so can't assume it's just like on the Hoovers.

From what I can see, from the picture that he listed the machine with, is that theres an electrical lead underneath, which probably goes to a removable plug and that the front of the handle fork juts out and has a bit that looks like a screw hole - so it may screw in front to back instead of side to side.

It seems like the problem is that there's a sleeve, which moves when the screw is turned. I was wondering if this might be a threaded stud and part of the handle fork, which has worked loose, preventing removal of the screw..but because I can't see what he's done I can't offer advice, except to say that he could maybe grind off the head of the screw. I can run a nut and bolt through of some sort so long as the main part of the handle and fork remains intact.

I know that on Hoovers, there's either a nut and bolt that goes from side to side...or on earlier models with wooden handle either a bolt underneath with nut in the handle or a thread directly into the handle fork and a threaded stud in the main handle. On the very early ones you have to unscrew the whole handle.

Don't know if any of you guys know what's involved with this Apex?

Stephen

 

[hooverbaby]

It's here...but now I need to get the armature out..

This early straight-suction Apex machine is currently partially dismantled, since I can't get any electrical continuity through the motor or switch. However, it's difficult to hold the armature still in the normal way, whilst attempting to unscrew the fan. There's no internal cooling fan to get a grip on and it's not possible to grab hold of the armature at the other end by hand. I've already tried making a small slot in the end of the shaft at the fan end with a hacksaw but it's too tight to hold it still with a screwdriver whilst attempting to undo. The only other way that seems possible is to insert some sort of armature locking tool through the vents at the rear of the motor.

Any ideas? The last patent date on the machine is from 1919.

The switch appears to be a rotary type, possibly General Electric?..but the knob is missing.

I'll see if I can take some pictures of it later.

Stephen

 

[watsonw]

Hello Stephen,

A friend has what sounds like the UK GEC version, i'll ask him when next in touch.


Regards, Walter.

 

[hooverbaby]

Thanks Walter!

I've not yet seen a straight-suction GEC upright in the UK, though I have a straight-suction GEC from the US.

There's a lot of variation in design between machines, so I'm not sure if your friend's GEC will be similar.

Usually, it's a simple matter of unscrewing a nut or belt pulley and twisting off the fan, which is unthreaded...but not so on this machine, which has no nut or pulley; the fan is threaded straight onto the armature and appears to be right, as opposed to left-hand threaded.

Some machines, such as Cadillac and some very early Hoovers have a pulley that screws onto the fan, which is itself keyed onto the armature shaft.

I was prompted to look up an armature tool, which I remember seeing listed in Re-New's 1943 American Catalogue. There was only one tool listed, which was a rather crude device. This was like a screwdriver and had a 90 degree angle in it towards one end, so it could be hooked around a suitable locking point. I could fabricate something similar myself but don't want to damage the windings by accidentally cutting into them.

I may try applying some localised heat onto the fan - again I don't want to fry the windings..but the shaft is on tight.

Stephen

 

[hooverbaby]

Finally, it comes off!

Just got the fan off the Apex today. I warmed up the fan a little with the oxy-propane torch, then poured some plus gas releasing fluid onto the shaft.

I eventually unlocked the armature from the fan by jamming a screwdriver through the rear of the motor casing into one of the armature slots and turning the fan by hand.

Having removed the fan I discovered that there is probably an easier way - there's no screws hidden behind the fan!! Instead, the backplate holding the front oil bearing can be prised away from the main motor casing using a screwdriver, something I hadn't spotted before...so it's probably possible to remove the backplate complete with the armature and fan and then unscrew the fan, whilst holding onto the armature. That would have been easier.

Now I just need to figure out why there's no continuity through the field coils and the switch..

Anyway here's some pictures:

1 Showing the fan - you can just about make out the right hand screw thread

 

[hooverbaby]

Showing motor with fan removed & oxy propane torch

There's possibly 88 years of filth behind the fan!

 

[hooverbaby]

Showing rear of fan

Here's the back of the fan. It's hard to tell from the picture but it's flat,unlike on some other machines. The torch and motor can be seen on the ground.

 

[hooverbaby]

Showing front of the machine

Here's the front casing. Do you recognise it now?

 

[hooverbaby]

Showing inside of motor & backplate

Here's what the inside of the motor looks like with armature and field coils in-situ.

 

[hooverbaby]

Showing name plate

Here's the nameplate on the motor. The last patent date is from January 1919 but I suspect that the machine may date from 1922, since the armature is stamped 2 22.

 

[hooverbaby]

Showing holes in rear of motor

Here are the holes in the back of the motor. I placed a screwdriver through one of these to jam the armature. Now I suspect there's an easier way - just lever the backplate out!

Note the rear oil (sleeve) bearing.

Stephen

 

[hooverbaby]

Removing tape to check Field Coils

Some black insulating tape was removed to expose a solder joint. Subsequently belling through the Field Coils confirmed that the fault was in the cable going into the motor from the handle and that the Field Coils were not open circuit - a relief!.

 

[hooverbaby]

Showing Link Wire

The Field Coils on this machine are connected together via a link wire in series, so the current goes through both coils before passing through the armature or vice versa.

 

[hooverbaby]

Oh dear!

Oh dear, what shall I do with this old cable?

The little bits of brown cloth-covered material are breaking up and leaving shreds of cloth everywhere!..to say nothing of the old and unusual rotary switch, which is jammed up and missing its knob.

The switch is a very interesting and delicate item, with a little ratchet and a contact which either makes or breaks with a 90 degree turn.

I had to remove the switch and the taped-up portion of the cable from the top of the hand-grip, chop the cable and then pull it back down through the spring.

 

[hooverbaby]

The motor is back together - hooray!

I spent some time cleaning the parts by hand, then re-assembled the motor.

A new piece of cable had to be soldered onto the cut-down Field Coil leads.

Note the oil holes with the little ball bearing seals.

 

[hooverbaby]

Front end back!

The front end goes back on in a small corner of the tiny shed.

 

[hooverbaby]

Different angle

Another view of the front end with the switch resting on it

 

[hooverbaby]

It's all back!

It's all back together!

..and as far as I'm concerned, well worth the wait.

I've been interested in aquiring one since I saw a photo of one in a book covering models from circa 1923. This appears to have the original bag.

 

[hooverbaby]

Frontal View

Here's another angle