Cool Vintage Battery Charger

[keithb7]

Recently someone gave me a pile of old auto parts and tools. They asked me if I wanted this old thing. Its an ESS brand 6V & 12V charger.  Made in Minneapolis USA. I’ll guess it’s late 50’s to early 1960 era?
 

I plugged it in. A pilot light lit up. No smoke! Seems safe-ish! I then used a digital multimeter and tested the connections. I measured amp flow too.  I learned that the various receiver holes are tapped into various lengths of windings. They tie into that larger round thing sticking out the front. Must be some type of wire wound resistor to eat up amps I guess. The longer the wire, the more resistance, the lower DC amp output. 
 

It works well. I’ll replace the wires and clamps. The main power-in wire too. I’m jacked I got this. I maintain a number of 6V and 12 batteries around here. Not enough 6V chargers here. My 6V options are now:

 

1A

2A

4A

7A

12A

 

Old non-digital chargers. I prefer them. 
 

 

 

Edited July 16, 2023 by keithb7

[Scott in ct]

Yes , I got some older manual chargers 6v. They are the only way to bring back a almost dead battery. However the automatic type are nice because they shut off by themselves when fully charged. Nice charger,  Scott in ct.