Help please ID-ing Columbia tabletop and parts availabilty

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barnettrp21122
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Help please ID-ing Columbia tabletop and parts availabilty

Post by barnettrp21122 »

Hello again all:
I'm not familiar with Columbia Graphophone tabletops, so I'd like someone to please tell me the model of this machine I found at a nearby flea market Sunday morning:
2019-07-28 16.27.31.jpg
It's missing its mainspring barrel assembly.
2019-07-28 16.37.26.jpg
I'm wondering if this model is common enough to expect to find motor parts for it, perhaps a whole motor in fact.

Once I know the model name I'll be able to do more of a search on the forum or online.
Thanks for your help!
Bob
"Comparison is the thief of joy" Theodore Roosevelt

His Master's Voice Automatic 1A Exponential Gramophone Demonstration:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qi70G1Rzqpo

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Lucius1958
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Re: Help please ID-ing Columbia tabletop and parts availabil

Post by Lucius1958 »

Looks like a Model C (1918 - 1924?). It was the lowest priced table Grafonola with a lid, so it might not be too hard to find parts.

-Bill

VanEpsFan1914
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Re: Help please ID-ing Columbia tabletop and parts availabil

Post by VanEpsFan1914 »

Those machines get junked frequently so I can imagine that motors are only too easy to find.

Columbia parts aren't replicated as frequently as Victor or Edison parts, but they are fairly common on the recycled/used market. Vollema will have it!

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barnettrp21122
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Re: Help please ID-ing Columbia tabletop and parts availabil

Post by barnettrp21122 »

Thanks, Guys, for your help! :)
:) Bob
"Comparison is the thief of joy" Theodore Roosevelt

His Master's Voice Automatic 1A Exponential Gramophone Demonstration:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qi70G1Rzqpo

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De Soto Frank
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Re: Help please ID-ing Columbia tabletop and parts availabil

Post by De Soto Frank »

That does not look like a Columbia motor to me... the top & bottom plates and governor weights do not look like Columbia ?

I was going to suggest it looked like a Columbia "Favorite" / 50, based on the lid...


Perhaps if phonofreak sees this he will chime-in ?


De Soto Frank
De Soto Frank

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barnettrp21122
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Re: Help please ID-ing Columbia tabletop and parts availabil

Post by barnettrp21122 »

Here's a follow-up to this machine-
I sent the motor to George Vollema who had the parts needed to complete the motor (two spring barrels plus some other small pieces) and I had him do the rebuild while he had it. It turned out very nice. The cabinet only needed a cleaning with Goop
and the turntable felt cleaned up very well, following OrthoSean's cleaning recommendations.

http://forum.talkingmachine.info/viewto ... table+felt
2019-07-28 16.27.31.jpg
2019-08-06 14.14.21.png
2019-08-06 17.46.17.png

New reproducer gaskets from Ron Sitko, and the project was complete!
It's a cute little machine, though I haven't found an exact pictured example out on the internet.
Thanks for all the help!
Bob
"Comparison is the thief of joy" Theodore Roosevelt

His Master's Voice Automatic 1A Exponential Gramophone Demonstration:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qi70G1Rzqpo

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De Soto Frank
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Re: Help please ID-ing Columbia tabletop and parts availabil

Post by De Soto Frank »

Very nice !

:)
De Soto Frank

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OrthoSean
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Re: Help please ID-ing Columbia tabletop and parts availabil

Post by OrthoSean »

Looks great, Bob! I've had one of these languishing in my workshop for a good 15 years that I bought at an auction for $10. It just needs a good cleaning, everything is there on mine and even the tonearm moves freely in all directions. I really should do something with it!

Sean

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