Our local Argos store is selling cheap hairdryers for under 4 quid.
They are described as having dc motors but are rated for use on AC 115v or 230v.
Made in China I suspect they are widely available.
In the interests of NBTV I bought 2 and took them apart.
The motive power is a small dc motor labelled 18v and fed from 4 diodes connected as a bridge.
Fed from a 12v supply the motor runs at around 7200 rpm.
To extract the motor the fan blades have to be cut off together with the cowling.
Pity really.
Other components recoverable are a 2 way speed switch with 1N4007, a heating element of zig zag resistance wire wound as a spiral around a heat proof former and a 115/230 input volts selector switch.
The heater might be useful as a power dropper resistance.
Regards,
Graham