The mechanism in my Amberola 1-B is noisy. The growl emanates from the governor area. It's not a click, click, click like a cracked gear but a steady high speed growl. Any suggestions or help would be appreciated. I've tried a bit of good quality oil in the offending area but no help.
Thanks, Jerry Blais
Need help with an Opera mechanism
-
- Victor Monarch Special
- Posts: 8516
- Joined: Tue Feb 10, 2009 11:25 am
- Personal Text: Stop for a visit when in Oregon.
- Location: Albany, Oregon
- gramophone-georg
- Victor VI
- Posts: 3995
- Joined: Mon Jan 20, 2014 11:55 pm
- Personal Text: Northwest Of Normal
- Location: Eugene/ Springfield Oregon USA
Re: Need help with an Opera mechanism
Jerry, I've had those issues on Edisons and I found that offsetting the contact areas between two meshing straight cut gears diminished the growl substantially, e.g, instead of the gears contacting dead on where they mesh, offset them so that they make 50% or less contact with each other.
That noise is why modern automotive gears are angle cut, incidentally.
That noise is why modern automotive gears are angle cut, incidentally.
"He who dies with the most shellac wins"- some nutty record geek
I got PTSD from Peter F's avatar
I got PTSD from Peter F's avatar
- barnettrp21122
- Victor IV
- Posts: 1601
- Joined: Thu Jan 08, 2009 4:19 pm
- Personal Text: "Did you ever stop to think that pleasure is a duty?" (Victor sales pamphlet)
Re: Need help with an Opera mechanism
You might also try carefully adjusting the governor shaft and meshing gear position while it's running under low mainspring power. Make sure the larger-head adjusting screws are up against the bearings, then loosen the top set screws and slowly turn the adjusting screws front-to-back or vice-versa while listening for any change in sound. I've found that there's quite a bit of play in the governor shaft position compared to some other models.
You'll need to adjust the speed control pointer after making any changes with the governor shaft position.
Bob
You'll need to adjust the speed control pointer after making any changes with the governor shaft position.
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
His Master's Voice Automatic 1A Exponential Gramophone Demonstration:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qi70G1Rzqpo
- Chuck
- Victor III
- Posts: 891
- Joined: Fri Mar 25, 2011 11:28 pm
- Personal Text: Richards Laboratories http://www.richardslaboratories.com producing high quality cylinder blanks
- Contact:
Re: Need help with an Opera mechanism
Go to the auto parts store and pick up a can
of STP oil treatment.
Put a few drops on the noisy gears and listen
to what happens.
You will be amazed!
Chuck
of STP oil treatment.
Put a few drops on the noisy gears and listen
to what happens.
You will be amazed!
Chuck
"Sustained success depends on searching
for, and gaining, fundamental understanding"
-Bell System Credo
for, and gaining, fundamental understanding"
-Bell System Credo
- Chuck
- Victor III
- Posts: 891
- Joined: Fri Mar 25, 2011 11:28 pm
- Personal Text: Richards Laboratories http://www.richardslaboratories.com producing high quality cylinder blanks
- Contact:
Re: Need help with an Opera mechanism
So did you try it?
"Sustained success depends on searching
for, and gaining, fundamental understanding"
-Bell System Credo
for, and gaining, fundamental understanding"
-Bell System Credo
-
- Victor Monarch Special
- Posts: 8516
- Joined: Tue Feb 10, 2009 11:25 am
- Personal Text: Stop for a visit when in Oregon.
- Location: Albany, Oregon
Re: Need help with an Opera mechanism
I apologize... I've been away from home a bit but have the best intentions of trying the suggestions. I've owned the machine a couple of years and other big Amberolas have made this one a lower priority.
You are so correct. This is no different than my mild criticism about the Spring Motor except I'm the guilty one! Jerry
You are so correct. This is no different than my mild criticism about the Spring Motor except I'm the guilty one! Jerry
-
- Victor Monarch Special
- Posts: 8516
- Joined: Tue Feb 10, 2009 11:25 am
- Personal Text: Stop for a visit when in Oregon.
- Location: Albany, Oregon
Re: Need help with an Opera mechanism
I tried lubricating with a little STP with no major but maybe some minor success. Thanks, Jerry