Carousel Mechanism

Feb 12, 2005 8 Replies

A friend of the wife who does a lot of machine embroidery recently purchased plans for a 12" carousel. She has been looking for a mechanism to power it (think music box mechanism?).



Does anyone have any thoughts on where to find such a device?



Errol Groff


If it doesn't have to be spring powered I'd think about scrounging around the surplus houses for a line voltage operated "timing motor", they were made in many snail paced rotational speeds. The bearings and shafts in them are strong enough so that you could directly rest a reasonably well balanced lightweight mini carousel right on it.

They used to Be $12 items new, but I guess the transition to electronic timing of everything has turned them into "replacement items" these days, because I just Googled around and some manufacturers are showing list prices above $100 for them now, Shoosh!.

But, H&R has a 10 RPM one which might fill the bill if wifey will accept line powering her carousel:

HTH,

Jeff

What speed, what load, is electric OK? I see stuff like this every now and then at AxMan surplus -- including music box mechanisms.

I think I remember Surplus Center having some watch display case mechanisms. I don't see it on their site though. Might be worth giving them a call.

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Here are some nice new ones
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$spindb.query.theme.tdview.40.google.commercial_display_motors bottom of the page, $65

Wayne

The big box hobby shops, Michael's and Hobby Lobby around here, stock music box mechanisms with various tunes. Pick one, bolt it in.

Go to Goodwill and get an electric can opener and pull the motor out of it. The last one I got cost me $2...

Or the motor from an electric alarm clock - $.75 for the last one I bought...

Or even a music box, I think I saw one for about $4, but it was a wind up one...

Microwave turntable motor? Gerry :-)} London, Canada

Try Surplus Center, or a bar-b-que rotisserie.

Today, AxMan had 11.4 RPM and 4.8 RPM motors, one was $3 and the other $3.95. There were others (like 1 RPH) as well....

No spring-run motors today.

If you'd like one of these, zing me an email and I'll pick one up for you. Figure another 3 bux or so for USPS postage.

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