running 3 phase motors from single phase...

Jules> Rats, I just found out the museum's dead Sperry drum store Jules> uses a 3 phase motor - is there any way I can run this from a Jules> single phase supply (UK mains, ~240V, 50Hz) without things Jules> blowing up? Or am I resigned to replacing the motor with a Jules> single phase equivalent? I thought 3 phase mains was readily available in Europe? Or is that only on the continent? (I remember we had it in Holland, for the electric cooking stove.) In any case, the answer is to get a variable speed motor controller. Those are oversized inverters that produce adjustable frequency 3 phase AC from either single or 3 phase inputs. The primary purpose is to feed variable frequency power to 3 phase motors, which will change their speed -- much handier than gear boxes. But as a bonus, they will also serve to produce 3 phase power for those of us stuck in the back country. Google: "variable frequency motor drive" turns up a pile of hits, looks promising. paul