Laycock compressors

[MattF]

Just wondered if anyone might have a Laycock vertical compressor? Picked one up today, (Ebay has a lot to answer for, tempting people like it does to collect things they don't really need ), and was after a pic or two if anyone had one in complete, original condition, so that I could get an idea of what to aim for in restoring this one. Info on these seems to be a bit thin on the ground, as I've not been able to find anything so far. The motor looks like it's not original, (and likely knacked to boot), and the on/off switch is missing, (looks like that may be a standard MEM switch, judging from the back box), as well as the cover for the pressure switch.

Cheers.

 

[tigler]

One I've never heard of but I wouldn't be surprised if it's a re-badged Ingersoll Rand or Broomwade.

 

[pedrobedro]

Laycock were a garage equipment supplier of car hoists, jacking beams etc. and if you google them it appears they have started up again in Hessle, Hull.

 

[MattF]

One I've never heard of but I wouldn't be surprised if it's a re-badged Ingersoll Rand or Broomwade.

Did think something like that initially, but the actual casting on the compressor head has their name embossed, as part of the rear housing cast itself, rather than just being badged, so it looks like they may have actually made their own kit. (Unless it was fairly standard for that bit to be cast differently for various suppliers, by either the manufacturers else by the suppliers themselves)? I'll take some photos and pop them up, when I can find the camera. Those may be more useful for trying to identify if it is rebadged or specific to that company? I think the model number listed on the tank badge is LX4.

Laycock were a garage equipment supplier of car hoists, jacking beams etc. and if you google them it appears they have started up again in Hessle, Hull.

Did manage to find some info on their old Sheffield operations, and it seems they did a fair few things, like you mention. General engineering, auto & garage equipment, overdrives etc. Very thin information on the actual stuff they did though. Sounds like they were taken over by several companies from the 60's or so onwards too, which ne'er helps for finding info.
Seems there may have been some vague relation between them and Kismet at some point too, which would be quite ironic, as that's another make of compressor head I have knocking about here, for future restoration and use. Tha's only a single cylinder affair, the same as this other one, but somewhat larger and a damned sight heavier to boot. That one came on a little 50L horizontal tank for which it was total overkill. It was a bit of a Hobson's affair. I believe the tank was manufactired by Ben, if I recall correctly. The electric motor was the same as the head unit. A massively heavy thing which was totally out of place on that tank. I still have the head unit and motor, but took them off the tank and popped the tank back on Ebay. This is the motor which came with that one:

The lifting hook and tape measure probably gives a good indication of it being slightly large & heavy.


p.s: Apologies for taking this thread off course somewhat.

 

[MattF]

Finally got around to taking a couple of pictures of the compressor head:

 

[tigler]

Thats a Bristol Compressors pump. I have heard of Laycock, but it's as I thought, a re-badged unit. Broomwade were the same, they would badge one up if a reasonable quantity were ordered. I have a Broomwade badged as Aeraspray.
Bristol were a premium maker, the units were very high quality.

 

[MattF]

Cheers. Should be quite worthwhile getting it sorted then. What sort of age are they? Just wondering so that I know what style of motor to put with it. The one which came with it was knacked, but also looked like a fairly modern replacement. I'm guessing those compressor units were probably 70's, or somewhere around there?

 

[tigler]

I have no precise information but from what I've seen of them we are probably talking 60's to 70's.
I have a large V twin version, fairly late but no later than 70's. It's on a 7.5 Kw 3 phase motor and 250 LTR receiver, probably about 40 CFM. Needs tidying as it looks a bit sorry for itself but is fully working.

 

[MattF]

Cheers. Thought that appeared to be the sort of age, but wasn't quite certain. Should at least be able to get it looking a bit more original now. Fair old bit of output on that one of yours. Judging by the size of this one, I'm guessing that the CFM will be quite low. Does have quite a nice, decently sized, (I'm guessing somewhere between 100L to 150L from the size of it), vertical tank. As you can likely guess from the head unit, it does need quite a bit of cleaning and tidying up though.