Speed control for kluge needed

The modern replacement would be a VFD. Variable Frequency Drive. They are becoming more affordable all the time. As long as your motor is healthy. A better pic of the motor plate would help a lot.

I put a better picture of the motor and the information plate. , it’s still in great shape

I still can’t read the motor class (far upper left on the motor nameplate), which is the most important piece of information for deciding what type of speed controller will work. The motor evidently has a wound rotor and brushes. Kimble’s 1903 patent No. 733,401 for a speed control for this type of motor shows the field coil connected directly across the line. Also connected across the line is the primary of a transformer. The transformer secondary, which has multiple taps, powers the armature. Motor speed is then roughly proportional to armature voltage and independent of frequency. The motor class designation will tell us whether this is a repulsion motor as I have just described, or a repulsion start, induction run motor, for which a VFD might work.

In checking with a local motor expert, this motor is probably way too old to work with a VFD. Apparently VFD’s input to the motor a “Corona” current or carrier voltage? Either way, he said this motor likely does not have proper winding structure or materials to handle this. It would “probably work, just not very long”. If production and dependability are priority, then a new motor and VFD would work. If period correctness is priority, well, got to get the old stuff fixed.