Here’s an odd one!!!

[ultralux88]

I know not everyone is as fascinated with these machines, but I go nuts over both strange commercial vacuums, and Silver Kings. Why not combine the two! Here’s a Thompson Bypass!

 

[kirboover]

interesting...

it does look kind of like a Silver King, i haven't ever seen one like it. Is it wet/dry or what things does it do.

 

[blackheart]

That is strange!

The motor unit on that seems very tall how is it set up? Is it a triple stage motor? Perhaps even a dual motor unit?

 

[ultralux88]

So it’s a wet/dry machine. From what I’ve learned from Tania (she’s the Silver King expert) this normally would have used a larger version of the flat round disk filters. Mine came with what was called the ‘moleskin bag’ which was used for lots of bulk pickup of finer dirts like plaster or soot. They also had a float valve thing for wet pickup, although you don’t have to have it to suck up wet stuff. This was the commercial line for Thompson, as the silver king was the smaller unit more targeted at residential and light commercial use. This particular machine is set up to take a HUGE motor, that entire upper section is all motor, it’s damn near squeezed between that bottom plate above the filter and almost touches the inside of that upper dome! It’s an Ametek 114787 motor, 3 fan, 7.5 inch thing!

 

[blackheart]

Motor specs

Very interesting! I was expecting it to have a massive amount of sealed suction with a decent amount of flow. It definitely runs at a lower RPM than most and while it's flow is quite strong it's suction is so so. Either way very interesting find and thank you for sharing!