Sterling M-5, Fast Wail: Mitchell, Indiana

[sirendude2012]

How does one tell the difference between an M-5 and an M-10 by the way?

a Sterling M-5 has a 5 HP motor, an M-10 has a 10 HP motor. That is why it takes a longer time for an M-5 to wind up.

[murrfarms]

a Sterling M-5 has a 5 HP motor, an M-10 has a 10 HP motor. That is why it takes a longer time for an M-5 to wind up.

That's not the only difference. The M-5 is considerably smaller than a M-10 (and proportionally lighter than one), with smaller rotors/stators than the M-10. Most M-5s came as either single head 16 port or double 16 port, though once in a great while you may find an 8 port single head. The M-10s are usually also double 16, though there are probably equally as many out there in 8/16 dual tone configuration. I have seen a couple 8 port single head M-10s before, but only once have I ever personally seen a 16 port single head M-10, and it's in someone's collection. Next time Matt (videogamer) comes up this way, I'll have to see if he'd be willing to bring his M-5 16/16 up here so we can have a photo-op with my big Sterling Y-10 (same as an M-10), for future size reference.

[Batman]

^Thanks for the info. I meant how to visually tell the difference; I should have mentioned that. Isn't there also an even smaller one (with like 2.5 or 3 HP)?

[murrfarms]

^Thanks for the info. I meant how to visually tell the difference; I should have mentioned that. Isn't there also an even smaller one (with like 2.5 or 3 HP)?

I'm pretty sure the single head version of the M-5 had a 3hp motor, since there was really no need to have the same motor horsepower that was required to turn two rotors, just to spin the single rotor.

[DSRX100]

Sorry for the Bump, but here's a redo of Mitchell's Sterling. Since then, it has been relocated on a pole. It even sounds a little better as the pitch peaks a little higher than it used to. More info in the description. Thanks!



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W57n0k_C_yQ

[uncommonsense]

I'm assuming there's Whelens being activated on that frequency. That's an obvious Whelen DTMF string. I'm guessing the Sterling is on a Whelen radio and timed to match the (I'm assuming) wail tone the Whelens (if present) sound.

[Daniel]

There is a dual 8-port M5 in Union, Oregon, but I don't know whether it is still in use.

[justie1220]

Hey it doesn't have the jitters anymore!

[DSRX100]

I'm assuming there's Whelens being activated on that frequency. That's an obvious Whelen DTMF string. I'm guessing the Sterling is on a Whelen radio and timed to match the (I'm assuming) wail tone the Whelens (if present) sound.

Yeah they have a Whelen Vortex on the opposite side of town. They might have another one by the state park but I'm not too sure. Here's a video of their Vortex I took a couple years ago.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cb4fiAM5Bbs