[TheForge] Buffalo forge blower/ Magic of motors

[Bob Smolen]

I am cleaning up an old #50 Buffalo blower. It wouldnt turn so I cleaned out
a mud hornet nest and other crud, disassembled the motor and one brush
seemed hung up. Motor is now working outside the forge so I will reassemble
and hope for the best.
Question: The motor plate says always run with rheostat. I dont have a rheo
and was going to use an air gate. Will this cook the motor?

This is a beautiful blower and I would like to retain the original motor..
The motor has a spring loaded hinge on two small compartments that allow
access to the brushes. The motor plate says it will run on DC or AC current
and many different cycles. Sure is nice to see what great mfg. was done here
years ago.
I would appreciate an electrical person telling me what I can do to evaluate
a motor and why it may not be running which was the case before I got lucky
with the brushes which is  about the only thing I know about motors. From
freshman science in 1962, I recall the field windings on the outside create
a magnetic effect causing the armature to turn due to attraction/ repulsion
of north and south poles? Somehow the commutator keeps changing the poles so
the armature spins--or something like that?
Thanks you your comments.
Bob