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Author Topic: The Aussie Eagle Has Landed -- Jensen #50 Vacuum Pump Returns to the States  (Read 1977 times)

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First... Thanks again to Jim for the discovery and to Jim and several others who stood back while I bid on this very unusual item.


It is a vacuum pump built by Tom Jensen Sr. and possibly during WW2. 


I have been doing some more homework on this piece and I have found the 6 volt DC motor was mfg by EMC, Electric Motor Corporation, of Racine, Wisconsin. This company was known for making fractional hp electric motors. They existed from before WW1 until 1945 when they were taken over by Howard Industries.


Tom Jensen Sr. did not begin making #50 cylinders until the late 1930's and EMC did not exist after 1945 which makes for some very interesting speculation.


Enjoy!


Gil









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That was quick Gil, glad it arrived safe and sound.

What a delightful piece of Jensen history this is and its gone to a great home. I hope that it draws a lot of intrigue and attention at shows.

Love to know more history of the piece as it comes to light, be great to know how it ever made its way to Australia, but I doubt we'll ever know.

Very exciting isn't it!

Thanks for the pics and the video Gil, such a pleasure seeing it in more detail.
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Jim

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Gil, you have a diamond in the rough there...what a unique piece of Jensen history.

It has probably been said and I missed it, but what was the primary purpose for that vacuum pump???

Rog
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FANTASTIC!!!

Well done all around .... BRAVO!
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Gil, a great piece... But I thought it was only conjecture it's a Jensen engine?? Do we really know??

If I remember right, it's a dental pump. Probably for sucking blood and saliva when doing dental work.

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Gil, Jim

Well done, gents.

I'm sure one day we will know more about these units.  Very interesting that one wound up in Australia.

This is why we stay interested in this hobby of ours.

A truly a missing piece in the puzzle of Jensen engines.

Thanks Gil !!!
Scott

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Gil, a great piece... But I thought it was only conjecture it's a Jensen engine?? Do we really know??

If I remember right, it's a dental pump. Probably for sucking blood and saliva when doing dental work.


Hi Chris, that it is a dental pump was apparently speculation on the part of the seller. It does look like some sort of lab equipment however the 6 volt motor with a very heavy duty power cable with terminal lugs for an automotive battery strongly suggests it was for some sort of field use.


I am not saying this was a military piece but it was quite possibly, even likely, made during the correct period, has the 6 volt motor and cable for field use. If you combine that with already gathered knowledge that Tom Jensen Sr.'s war effort work involved equipment that could be used for a machine that "sniffed" and analyzed air for poisonous gas. While we cannot say anything with certainty at least at this point and now we have something to go on as I expect that more of these will surface now that we are all on the lookout for them. Add to this the olive drab color you can see in the shielding protecting the power cable.
Or was it in a mobile dental office?


As far as it being a Jensen engine, yes it is absolutely a Jensen engine and a #50 at that.


I have an identical base with no components but all the holes drilled and tapped precisely as this one and a Jensen 50 steam cylinder is the only piece that will fit it.


I would love to know more about it landing in Australia. I found that the seller has had it for a number of years so I have emailed him for any info on where and how he found it.


Gil




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That is awesome Gil!  8)  And makes two 50's found in the same week and at a great deal  ;)

I imagine this one was missed by the "silent Jensen collectors"
Nick

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Have you posted this up on Smokstak Gil? I would think it would cause quite a lot of interest. Maybe post the link back to here?
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Cheers.
Jim

Blue Heelers Model & Toy Steam Engine Room YouTube Channel -
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I'd say it has to be that "sniffing" equipment. As you say it has car battery power.

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An interesting piece of Jensen history.  Thanks for posting Gil.
Steven

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very interesting piece & the quickest shipping from Australia I have ever seen. I think the drive belt from a Taig vertical mill (see Nick Carters Taig sight) might be a close replacement for your Jensen vacuum unit.
Bruce, St. Paul Indiana, USA
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Perhaps this was part of an ECBC built unit that could be their M1 field lab or M4 vapor detection kit as referenced, but sadly not shown, in this little self-promo video clip:



https://www.ecbc.army.mil/100/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edgewood_Chemical_Biological_Center
"Information is not knowledge, Knowledge is not wisdom, Wisdom is not truth, Truth is not beauty, Beauty is not love, Love is not music: Music is THE BEST...   
Wisdom is the domain of the Wis (which is extinct). Beauty is a French phonetic corruption of a short cloth neck ornament currently in resurgence..."
F. Zappa ... by way of Mary, the girl from the bus.