Decot Model 12 Red Arrow Restoration
Posted: Sun Apr 30, 2023 1:29 pm
I will begin the documentation on the restoration of this antique Decot (pronounced Deck-oh for the new guys) It is a Model 12, the biggest Teddy made. It was made from 1925-1930. This one was originally purchased and installed in Wisconsin Dells, but then sold and reinstalled at Lyndon Station WI VFD, where it remained for many more years. Bill Nagler then purchased this siren and another one from Lyndon Station in the 1970s for a whopping $100. He then kept the model 12 for parts, as the Valley Electric motor had burnt out.
. He wanted to make sure this one ended up with someone who would cherish and take care of it after he was gone. He had expressed this a good 10+ years ago that he thought I would be a good person to fulfill this due to my aptitudes and stable living situation. But I left it to him to make this decision.
With Bills latest injury, and health scare, he called me up and said he would like me to take and restore this one to working condition now. This whole debacle has really got him thinking of of his own mortality and what he will do with his material goods for when he does pass away someday in the future.
So yesterday, I spent the day visiting and helping him organize the basement of his shop/museum. While still in recovery, he mustered up all the energy he could to help me find and recover all the parts needed for this Model 12, and a spare motor for LukeH's Quadruplex. I was able to make a clear path around. And we commenced the game of 20 questions with Bill, as he rested on the basement steps. Is the motor blue? Is the peckerhead on the side? "No, that's a repulsion induction". "I swear it's in this corner"
Bills memory and internal inventory is amazing when it comes to the motors on the shelves. I can pick one of the shelf; He feels it, thinks for a second, and can tell me each one's history and application, repairs he's done to it, and even the bearing sizes. I've known him for nearly 20 years, and this never fails to amaze me.
With quite a bit of lugging and pulling up the stairs with my pneumatic tired handtruck, I was able to get the 10/15 port head up the stairs. With a bit more rummaging we found the legs. He also gave us a good used 10hp Baldor to retrofit into it. Both the motor and siren head weigh about 150-200lbs each.
. He wanted to make sure this one ended up with someone who would cherish and take care of it after he was gone. He had expressed this a good 10+ years ago that he thought I would be a good person to fulfill this due to my aptitudes and stable living situation. But I left it to him to make this decision.
With Bills latest injury, and health scare, he called me up and said he would like me to take and restore this one to working condition now. This whole debacle has really got him thinking of of his own mortality and what he will do with his material goods for when he does pass away someday in the future.
So yesterday, I spent the day visiting and helping him organize the basement of his shop/museum. While still in recovery, he mustered up all the energy he could to help me find and recover all the parts needed for this Model 12, and a spare motor for LukeH's Quadruplex. I was able to make a clear path around. And we commenced the game of 20 questions with Bill, as he rested on the basement steps. Is the motor blue? Is the peckerhead on the side? "No, that's a repulsion induction". "I swear it's in this corner"
Bills memory and internal inventory is amazing when it comes to the motors on the shelves. I can pick one of the shelf; He feels it, thinks for a second, and can tell me each one's history and application, repairs he's done to it, and even the bearing sizes. I've known him for nearly 20 years, and this never fails to amaze me.
With quite a bit of lugging and pulling up the stairs with my pneumatic tired handtruck, I was able to get the 10/15 port head up the stairs. With a bit more rummaging we found the legs. He also gave us a good used 10hp Baldor to retrofit into it. Both the motor and siren head weigh about 150-200lbs each.
