The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

An aside, the previous owner put that green fabric all over the dampener or whatever you call it. Should I remove it?

I'm not really worried about the paint, soldering aside, b/c while it's not ideal for resale... the previous owner (a woodworker) found this in a storage barn essentially and refinished it, including making it a new custom grill (that was missing) so the original finish is shot and therefore this machine is worth nothing as far historic value. Don't get me wrong, he did a top notch woodwork refinish job... but the none of the finish on this machine is original. I get I probably paid too much for a refinished machine that isn't even operational, but I'm a collector of strays so here I am. lol

vintagevt wrote:I double checked and it's definitely set to 80. But I have no idea how to lube or fix the speed issue.

I'm not sure if I want to cry or not that you all think it has no major issues but I personally can't fix any of them. lol

The knob may be set to 80; but that does not guarantee that it is playing at 80. You will have to adjust the governor so that the actual speed matches the indicated speed. You would do well to buy a copy of Eric Reiss' The Compleat Talking Machine: it is an invaluable resource for any enthusiast.

It is best to clean the motor thoroughly before re-lubricating it: old oil residues and hardened grease can rob power from any machine. Check that the oiling tubes are clear as well. Good luck!

Bill

tbh... I just want to throw money at all of it... lol Anyone, Bueller?



I mean, I gather you all are technical folks and I'm like dummy English/Psych minor over here... I couldn't lube/adjust the governor if I tried at this point. I'm not dumb, I could learn, but I'm hardly technically inclined naturally.

Good Lord, this is like a whole new hobby I don't have time for (I already dance, do gymnastics and ski). Please tell me my 90s photo developing skill translate to 20s phonograph repair? No??? Crap.

I'm beginning to think I just need to find this poor machine a good home.

I mean if I buy The Compleat Talking Machine is there any hope this thing is gonna ever work again?

vintagevt wrote:I mean if I buy The Compleat Talking Machine is there any hope this thing is gonna ever work again?

Welcome to the forum.

You shouldn't try to operate your C 150 in this condition, and in case you're not aware, never play Edison Diamond Disc records with steel needles!

As for your question: well...of course it's always a personal choice as to how much $$$ one wants to spend on rehabbing an old Phonograph, but if you're not in the hobby for the long haul, it might not make sense to invest more than the machine is "worth". C 150s are pretty common, so resale isn't likely more than you've already paid for it, unless it were in excellent original condition.

A proper Edison Diamond Disc reproducer in good or better operating condition (that you'll need to complete the machine) can be had (with patience) for around $100+/-. The reproducer constitutes a large chunk of the value of this common Edison Disc Phonograph. You show your machine in the video equipped with a "78" adapter. Adapters like yours can play "78"s anywhere from terribly, to adequately, but the true test of the Edison Diamond Disc Phonograph is with Edison Diamond Discs, equipped with an appropriate Diamond Disc Reproducer.

Yours would need a nickel plated Reproducer like the one I show below.

To familiarize yourself a bit with the motor and mechanism, here's a link to an Edison Disc Motor repair manual: http://forum.talkingmachine.info/viewto ... ?f=2&t=476.

Most repairs and adjustments are fairly simple if you're mechanically inclined, otherwise it can be a bit daunting at first.

As for the broken horn pivot tube, that can be fixed as pointed out by George Paul (phonogfp), OR you can set to looking for a replacement horn, but be aware that there were 3 different sized horns used during the time period yours was produced -- referred to as the "100", "150", and "250" (yours is the 150 size horn). The horn is fairly easy to swap out with a good one, but you'll need to familiarize yourself thoroughly with the construction of the "mechanism" -- which is comprised of the "motor plate", "spring motor", "gear-train", and the "horn assembly".

Afterward, you'll need to adjust the reproducer height so that it plays Edison Diamond Disc records properly.

I hope I've been helpful.

Best,
Fran

Don't give up!

The first time I fixed a record player like these I got so frustrated I nearly sold off the motor and parts, then burned the case for firewood. But I decided not to. The Victrola stayed put, intact, and I just went ahead and restored it. I did the motor and the soundbox first, so I could listen to Paul Whiteman's jazz band while polishing the case--lazy man's logic.

You mentioned it was already refinished. They already did the hard part for you! At least it will look nice in the house, more the way Thomas Edison intended. As far as the reproducer, go ahead and put a wanted ad here; a lot of people have parts stashed away. You'll love it when it's restored.

I'm doing an Edison Amberola 30 right now--a cheapie cylinder player from 1915-'29. It was cheap when new, looks like junk, and plays like garbage. But one little bit here and there will add up. Is it cheap? Nope. Easy? Never. Rewarding--try finishing up a repair, then put on a record, sit back with a period-correct book, and listen in. It's more than audio, it's time travel.

Good luck!

Knowing your more specific location would help... the philly/NYC area is pretty large. I’m just outside Philadelphia in south jersey and would be happy to take a look at your machine if you’re close.

And not to sound preachy or whatever, but patience is often rewarded in a hobby like this, when it comes to finding the right thing, or particularly when looking to restore something the right way. That said, I can certainly understand the impulse to have something now, right away, that needs nothing further than someone to appreciate and use it. But if that’s your situation, it might be more prudent to just pay a little more for something that’s already been cleaned up and restored, ideally by someone who knows what he or she is doing.