Identifying an Older Air Compressor – Serial Numbers, Photos & Antique Air Compressor Identification

Are you having an issue with identifying an older air compressor? Air compressors have been around in one form or another since the dark ages. If you need help in identifying an older air compressor in order to try to source parts, find a compressor manual, or just get some online guidance on proper use and so on, this is the page to do it!

This page will also provide an opportunity for readers to post photos of their old air compressors so that someone can help identify them!

Table of Contents

• How to Identify an Older Air Compressor
• Help Identifying an Old Air Compressor
• FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
• Existing Identifying an Old Air Compressor Pages

How to Identify an Older Air Compressor

To identify an older air compressor you should first try and find identifiable markings such as serial numbers on nameplates or embossing on the tank or pump housing. These serial numbers and logos can be key to identifying the original equipment manufacturer, who may by now have been bought out by another brand or “OEM”. Sharing your findings with the About Air Compressors community is a key step in identifying your air compressor brand, make, and model. By sharing images you give our passionate and experienced community the best opportunity to help you in your quest for further information about your old air compressor.

Air compressors support various types of tools, which ultimately spare the strain of running off separate motors. With older compressors, the appeal may center on the rarity of an old machine, or even the novelty of having an outdated piece of machinery that is still operable.

Most air compressors should have a nameplate like the one in the image below. If it does, you should read it as it will have all the information you need!

If your compressor doesn’t have a nameplate, then you should search for distinguishable markings on the tank or the pump like brand names or model numbers.

Identifying an older air compressor can be done with the 4 following steps:

• Check the backside of the tank to see if there’s a stamp that lists the year that the compressor was produced along with the manufacturer. If only the manufacturer name is present, do a Google search of the brand compressors
  
• Look along all sides of the air compressor for a patent number, which is often listed near the name of the manufacturer on most older compressors
  
• Go to Google Patents and run a search on the patent number (if you find it), this will provide you with basic information on the model including the manufacturer and issue date
  
• Upload images of the air compressor to a forum like this page where other compressor connoisseurs are likely to recognize the model
  

Help Identifying an Old Air Compressor

To make it easier for your air compressor to be identified, please add at least two photos, preferably four photos, one photo from each side. More photos of an older air compressor almost always lead to faster help.

No photo? Sorry, your posting cannot be approved for this page.

It’s very difficult to identify an older compressor, particularly one without identifying numbers, so in order to get your post approved for this site, at least one, and preferably more, photos must be added to your comment. Please click the “paper clip” icon when you’ve posted the words, and add the photos before you submit. Thanks.

Below there are a number of existing compressor identification requests already posted. As you scroll down the page to the new question form at the bottom, please have a look at some of them. If you can help identify another owner’s compressor it would sure be appreciated by all.

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

Existing Identifying an Old Air Compressor Pages

• Old compressor by Ben Patents Ltd.
• Please help identify this Rand 4000
• Help identifying old green compressor
• Help identifying old compressor pump for parts
• Any idea who made this compressor pump
• Identify Lux compressor for information
• Info on a 1978 Sears-DeVilbiss-Doerr air compressor
• Year of this unknown air compressor
• Unidentified Kellogg America break shoe compressor
• Vintage DeVilbiss air compressor
• Old Honeywell air compressor
• Patent number 4065237 that’s all
• Info on this vintage air compressor
• Identify this 1940’s air compressor
• Old Speedaire identification
• Rebuild this old compressor
• Want to rebuild this compressor but cannot identify it
• What oil for old Jacuzzi air compressor
• Need assistance to rebuild this old compressor
• Please look at this compressor – I have a few questions
• What compressor do I have here
• Information needed on this 1953 air compressor
• Ben Patents air compressor
• Is this a Kelvinator compressor with a riveted air tank

If you need help identifying an old air compressor, please leave a comment below, with a photo if applicable, so that someone can help you!

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