Here's an oldie "oddball" transformer

Here is a catalog from the company in 1942.  It doesn't show the transformer you have, but they definitely were in the business.  I would be that with a new cord, it would work just fine. 

http://www.junkbox.com/electro...20Catalog%201942.pdf

They also show up on Ebay occasionally.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Prewar...orking-/322520007115

They are even still in business.  Now that is interesting.

http://www.thordarsonmagnetics.com/history.php

Thanks Jon for this info. Ain't the internet wonderful.  For all the train shows and even a TCA meet, I have not seen this transformer, but apparently they show up on Ebay and the like.  Of course a transformer aren't very "sexy" devices, just ho-hum converting 120VAC into low voltages.

Back in the day when I was a young shaver, my uncle would give me old radio chassises and some would have Thordarson transformers. Playing with and getting shocks from radios was How I got into electronics.  But now that I am retired that door has closed and left behind (it paid the bills and nothing more), and I am into volunteering, gardening, trains and travel etc.  Sorry to digress.

Rather than a "Lionel knock off" it's more likely that Lionel bought transformers from companies like this and put their brand on them.

RoyBoy posted:

Rather than a "Lionel knock off" it's more likely that Lionel bought transformers from companies like this and put their brand on them.

I completely agree.  This is very similar to early Lionel Transformers.

   I have a 1.5hp 6" w/ 3/4 " arbor (not 1/2"), Thor industrial bench grinder with cast pedestal, oil and water dips, blade sharpening jigs, etc . Great quality motors. The beast will eat you alive if not careful.

Likely the Thordson works or doesnt. I think they did make radios too.

Those things are usually filled solid with epoxies. No moving parts, etc.. I pop them open, look at the connections, aged cloths quality, look for rub throughs where wires cross if they are not frozen in place by "goo', check any breakers.. Oh yea, smell for burn (lasts decades in them) and most often I shine them up a bit for use that day. On a fused power strip  

  I have had an old Jefferson for near a decade that fails in warm weather, but loves the cold of winter. It works only for the holidays, the last three years. No cold solders, its a cracked winding wire within the epoxy.

I think the wiper type throttles and related "assemblies" in general, along with old plastic cords that may crumble any second, worry me more than good cloth and no moving parts inside.

The ones with no breakers worry me more.

It could simply be an early design still sold until the later cord was a standard feature. I see a cord tag. UL ? Compare the logo with UL on the case. It should be there and might match too, but again, the year can mean no UL logo at all yet. Replacement cords can have a UL tag too, but logos vary over time so this may or may not answer the cord originality to some degree, but could be a clue.

I have about vintage six Bakelite " screw outlet to plug outlet adaptors" . They fit large screw fuse or bulb outlets.  They still get used once in while too.

The oldest most intersting one is all ceramic. The access to the inside during the build is a mystery. Im thinking the brass was in the clay before its firing or female plug connection parts and screw side connection tabs, are both pressed in, one from each end, meet up internally, and then interlock. 

Ive seen them switched like lamps too. Twist, slide button, and pull chain.

For those gasping at the use with a cracked winding, it is essentially just a second thermal circuit breaker lol.

banjoflyer posted:

Couldn't pass this up. On page 159 of the same 1915 PM there's an ad for a new clothes washer from "Thor"...washes your clothes in an HOUR!!! Dig that groovy outfit the missus has on to wash clothes!

Mark

If I hadda stand over one of those things washing clothes for an hour, I'd be Thor too! 

Mitch

In the Lionel advert, lower right- under the transformer-"If you have electricity, be sure to get this transformer"

RRMan, plug it in!

If you are going to plug that transformer in, I hope you have GFI or Arc Fault protection.
That transformer case looks like it's seen better days, and I'd guess that the cord was replaced a long time ago.
 

C W Burfle posted:

If you are going to plug that transformer in, I hope you have GFI or Arc Fault protection.
That transformer case looks like it's seen better days, and I'd guess that the cord was replaced a long time ago.
 

I am just putting this on the shelf with other "mothballed" train stuff.  I already have 3 ZWs, KW, 2 1033 transformers there that came with collections I bought over the years, so don't think I have a need for the Thoradson 1D unit, other than something a little different.

re: Thor washer, my grandmother had something like that as I recall as a very young boy.  Made lots of noise.