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12-16-2010, 03:06 PM | #1 |
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Gordon Smith Model A Air Compressor
I have a good friend who has just "found" a Model A engine converted to an air compressor still in a wooden crate in an old warehouse. This is a Gordon Smith unit. Do you have photos/literature/info for this make? If you do I will send email and PX #. Also I know there was at least one article in an old RESTORER, but it is too cold to go to my barn and research. THANKS for your help. Jim Langley...
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12-16-2010, 03:35 PM | #2 |
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Re: Gordon Smith Model A Air Compressor
Is it a factory compressor?
Might it be a virgin new engine in a crate? Does it have an engine number stamped on it? If so then it might be the starts of a wonderful original engine for a car and quite the waste as a compressor. As a compressor they are very functional as I have used the Smiths compressor to sand blast several cars. It just runs on idle all day long giving tons of air. You do have to do a lot to chill the air and get the water out. A very long coil of pipe in a tank does the trick. |
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12-16-2010, 03:37 PM | #3 |
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Re: Gordon Smith Model A Air Compressor
Jim, there is a national Smith Motor Compressor Club that has been chartered just this year by both MAFCA and MARC. Membership is just $10 per year. They publish a quality quarterly newsletter, and have a national Smith serial number registry. For more information contact club President Stan Johnson at [email protected].
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12-16-2010, 03:55 PM | #4 |
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Re: Gordon Smith Model A Air Compressor
This was posted last week
http://fordbarn.com/forum/showthread...ghlight=gordon |
12-16-2010, 04:57 PM | #5 |
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Re: Gordon Smith Model A Air Compressor
Here are some pictures of my Gorden Smith air squeezer. I use it for make up air for the EIMCO 401 air locomotive. I leave my railroad up year around. The railroad is 18" gauge. I also use the compressor for the crane and cement mixer.
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12-16-2010, 06:24 PM | #6 |
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Re: Gordon Smith Model A Air Compressor
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12-16-2010, 06:49 PM | #7 | |
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Re: Gordon Smith Model A Air Compressor
Quote:
I will try for more detail tomorrow. It does not have much for exhaust. Old Jasper starts running up the hill when he thinks that is where we are headed. I use to open the RR up before I plowed my road. Now I am told if I do not want to shoot something for supper I better plow the road.
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IF IT CAN NOT BE FIXED WITH BLASTING WIRE, JB WELD OR DUCT TAPE ---IT CAN NOT BE FIXED Do not get me started on the stupidity of ethanol. I think one of the monitors is from Iowa and he will delete the thread. |
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12-16-2010, 10:28 PM | #8 |
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Re: Gordon Smith Model A Air Compressor
Sturgis,
Is that a Studebaker radiator / shell ? SC Frank |
12-16-2010, 10:50 PM | #9 |
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Re: Gordon Smith Model A Air Compressor
SC FRANK
Yes that is a Studebaker radiator shell. The compressor came with it. Do you know what year it might be?
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IF IT CAN NOT BE FIXED WITH BLASTING WIRE, JB WELD OR DUCT TAPE ---IT CAN NOT BE FIXED Do not get me started on the stupidity of ethanol. I think one of the monitors is from Iowa and he will delete the thread. |
12-17-2010, 01:28 PM | #10 |
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Re: Gordon Smith Model A Air Compressor
Best I can tell, '29-'30 Studebaker. There may have been subtle differences, but '28 and '31 were very distinctly different from the one on your compressor.
Regards, Frank |
02-22-2011, 10:28 AM | #11 |
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Re: Gordon Smith Model A Air Compressor
Jim
Is your friend wanting to sell the motor? I have a compressor without a motor.Mike |
02-22-2011, 08:09 PM | #12 |
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Re: Gordon Smith Model A Air Compressor
Jim, It would be great if you could get some pictures of your friend's Smith in the crate to share. I wouldn't destroy the compressor just to get a Model A short block. The compressor, if complete and running, would probably be worth more as a collectible compressor than as another rebuilt block.
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02-23-2011, 01:11 AM | #13 |
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Re: Gordon Smith Model A Air Compressor
That compressor is not worth a $1000, they are not really "collectible"
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02-23-2011, 10:49 AM | #14 |
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Re: Gordon Smith Model A Air Compressor
Were Gordon Smith compressors built using rebuilt junkyard engines, good used engines, or brand new engines?
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02-23-2011, 12:41 PM | #15 |
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Re: Gordon Smith Model A Air Compressor
Several years ao I bought a large collection of orig. car owners manuals form the 30-40's. With those manuals there was a large collection or orig. Gordon Smith Compressor literature, including colored brochures, instruction sheets & plans for building the units, price lists & parts lists. In the brochures units were listed with both new & rebuilt Model B motors. The motors were available with just the compressor head also. A new B motor with head was $295(Model 200) A rebuilt B motor was $240(R-200). Complete running units were available (Model R-100) with a rebuilt A motor for $595 (new A motor $650). They also list a Model 120 which had two (yes two) New Model B motors, these carried a price tag of $1185. How many units would you like to buy??? They put out 60 cu.ft or 120 cu.ft. of air. Perry, Snohomish Wa.
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02-23-2011, 09:03 PM | #16 |
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Re: Gordon Smith Model A Air Compressor
I don't know how you can say they are not "collectible" when it's pretty obvious that there are quite a number of people that have these machines. As stated earlier in this thread, there is a special interest group that started their own club for the Gordon Smith "A" Air Compressor. I own one but do not belong to the special interest group. Will probably consider doing so as a result of this thread. Don't mean to ruffle any feathers. Just my $0.02 worth. Don/WI
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02-24-2011, 12:17 PM | #17 |
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Re: Gordon Smith Model A Air Compressor
Gordon Smith Compressors are very collectible. They were used by mining operations & city municipalities around the country. They were even used at Mt. Rushmore. They ran on two cyl. & pumped air with the other two. In a piece of literature I have signed by Gordon Smith & written to a customer he stated that some parts were getting hard to come by because of the war effort. Perry in snowy Snohomish Wa.
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02-25-2011, 12:12 AM | #18 | |
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Re: Gordon Smith Model A Air Compressor
Quote:
I would love to see your collection??? Thanks, Ken |
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02-25-2011, 10:44 AM | #19 | |
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Re: Gordon Smith Model A Air Compressor
Quote:
My 1949 Gordon Smith has a 1931 engine, Does that answer your question? As for not being collectible my expensive new 80 gallon air compressor claims 17 CFM. The Gordon smith is about 60 CFM as I recall. Thats not exact but which would you prefer for sandblasting? |
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03-06-2012, 07:08 AM | #20 | |
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Re: Gordon Smith Model A Air Compressor
Quote:
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03-21-2012, 11:07 PM | #21 |
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Re: Gordon Smith Model A Air Compressor
We are looking for a Gordon Smith to be donated to the MAFFI Museum after we restore it. If it is available maybe this one would be a great choice.
Please let me know if it is for sale??? Ken |
03-24-2012, 12:43 AM | #22 |
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Re: Gordon Smith Model A Air Compressor
If you need new reed valves,Ive made them from banding thats about 1&1/4 wide &.025" thick.Just cut them to the size you need.They work well for valves.
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03-24-2012, 08:42 AM | #23 |
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Re: Gordon Smith Model A Air Compressor
Is there any interest in a crankshaft for a compressor engine?
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03-24-2012, 08:57 AM | #24 |
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Re: Gordon Smith Model A Air Compressor
Richard, The crankshafts are the same as any other. Do you have a Model A crankshaft with a different arrangement of the crank throws?
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03-24-2012, 12:18 PM | #25 |
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Re: Gordon Smith Model A Air Compressor
Regarding crank throw, the 2 fronts are 90 or 180 degrees off from the 2 rears. I would have to find it to see which it is.
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03-24-2012, 12:46 PM | #26 |
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Re: Gordon Smith Model A Air Compressor
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03-25-2012, 12:44 PM | #27 | |
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Re: Gordon Smith Model A Air Compressor
Quote:
http://midstateantiquestockcarclub.com/flat_heads5.html
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03-23-2014, 10:04 PM | #28 |
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Re: Gordon Smith Model A Air Compressor
Where can I find a complete Smith Motor Compressor? Reasonable near Oklahoma preferably.
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03-23-2014, 11:09 PM | #29 |
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Re: Gordon Smith Model A Air Compressor
3 p.m. this afternoon on the Classifieds. https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=134824
He wants $1K. But what you're getting is parts of two GS compressor setups that can be combined into one. He seems to have all the pertinent parts - and he'll likely throw in the excess parts (like a head) which were not used. I think he took the engine of one GS compressors for use in a car? Joe K
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03-24-2014, 08:02 PM | #30 |
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Re: Gordon Smith Model A Air Compressor
Hi JIm:
Do you have a photo of the compressor? This is Henry's 31, your fellow Model A Club Member! Have "A" great week, Al |
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