Bristol Duplex Compressor

[ljm]

Hi,

Does anybody know enough to ID a Bristol Duplex compressor from this scant info?...

It's a single cylinder, two stage, air-cooled machine with a triple belt drive. The only markings are "Bristol Duplex" on the crank case and a small plate saying "FOR REFERENCE QUOTE NO B50750".

Here's a general schematic of the type:
Reciprocating and Rotary Compressors - Google Books

Any info most welcome!

Cheers,

Lawrence

 

[iain/hsm]

May as well give the same answer I gave earlier:

If you want it to dig holes in the road with a jack hammer, knock yourself out.

If you want it for filling diving cylinders it's a non starter.

The original Bristol Duplex design was a single or twin cylinder, one or two stage low pressure compressor commonly found on the back of
tractor road diggers 30 years ago used as a low pressure air supply for pneumatic jack hammers and road drilling before
the advent of hydraulic driven jack hammers. (Edit maybe 40 years ago)

The high pressure units used the same low pressure crankshaft, crankcase and twin cylinder lower end con rods, Bristol (Fishponds)
and simply extended the 2nd stage piston rod through the head and added the 3rd stage liner and high pressure head on top.

Today parts are unavailable or very limited to old army surplus stock so mostly seen sold on EBay to the unaware.
Loads of diving blocks started to be "sold off" beginning a few years ago as news of the discontinuation of spares became known.

By your description you have a low pressure two stage unit. The "wise money" so to speak, the compressor players in the industry have
all mostly dumped or sold off there Bristol Duplex stock. Like a lot of discontinued parts all thats left is stuff no one wants or needs, the parts
you need (valves rings plates) etc, no ones got.

Happy Digging I guess. Iain Middlebrook

 

[Albert Pooholes]

Here in the states you will not find any parts. Chuck and Kurt Lameroux with SoCal Air in Southern California were the last dinosaurs still working on them but unfortunately the younger son passed away a few years back. In my opinion they were the only ones in the US that I would trust to repair the (American) Bristol compressors. Great guy and mechanic gone too soon.

 

[frogman62]

All, Except two of us. For the 4S7-70 we have parts and compressors. I was a Dealer for American Bristol for 35 years and a good friend of Chuck's. Today, Shelden Sporting Goods and Stark Industries own over 125 of this compressor and are building parts for this model, primarily for Scuba and CNG.
Jim Shelden