Mystery Motor.
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- Victor Monarch Special
- Posts: 5204
- Joined: Mon Oct 24, 2011 1:21 pm
- Personal Text: An analogue relic trapped in a digital world.
- Location: The Somerset Levels, UK.
Mystery Motor.
A friend bought this large and heavy motor at yesterday's CLPGS Phonofair. Can anyone identify it?
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- Victor IV
- Posts: 1124
- Joined: Tue Jun 24, 2014 10:12 pm
Re: Mystery Motor.
The brake/speed control looks like the type Columbia used on its machines.
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- Victor IV
- Posts: 1124
- Joined: Tue Jun 24, 2014 10:12 pm
Re: Mystery Motor.
In fact, the more I look at the overall motor, the more I think is is a Columbia product. The winding mechanism (ratchet wheel and click, etc) looks like a Columbia, as do the gears and their arrangement. I think this is a Columbia motor.
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- Victor Monarch Special
- Posts: 5282
- Joined: Mon Aug 24, 2009 3:08 pm
- Location: Southeast MI
Re: Mystery Motor.
For a Columbia BD or AR I believe.
The turntable spindle appears to be modified however.
The turntable spindle appears to be modified however.
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- Victor Monarch Special
- Posts: 5204
- Joined: Mon Oct 24, 2011 1:21 pm
- Personal Text: An analogue relic trapped in a digital world.
- Location: The Somerset Levels, UK.
Re: Mystery Motor.
Thank you gentlemen.
Perhaps the spindle was threaded to enable a record clamp to be fitted, possibly so that the machine could be used as a recorder.
Perhaps the spindle was threaded to enable a record clamp to be fitted, possibly so that the machine could be used as a recorder.
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- Victor IV
- Posts: 1124
- Joined: Tue Jun 24, 2014 10:12 pm
Re: Mystery Motor.
I followed through on JerryVan's suggested models and he is exactly right. Both Columbia models used the same motor. Here is a link to one (an AR) that sold. There is a photo of the motor.
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/ ... 1808443051
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/ ... 1808443051
- Steve
- Victor VI
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- Location: London, Paris, Amsterdam, Berlin, New York, Evesham
Re: Mystery Motor.
Yes, it's a Columbia used in the AR and BD Majestic. My BD is identical. In fact I nearly bought that motor as a spare. If I wasn't moving house at the moment your friend might not have got this!
It's one of the smoothest, most powerful and quietest motors ever made. I must say i find other collectors' seeming lack of interest in Columbia disc machines very surprising. They made machines the equal of Victor / HMV and some like the AR / BD were arguably superior. I know UK machines from the 20s suffer from pot metal rot and fatigue which is a real pity but earlier machines are not problematic.
It's one of the smoothest, most powerful and quietest motors ever made. I must say i find other collectors' seeming lack of interest in Columbia disc machines very surprising. They made machines the equal of Victor / HMV and some like the AR / BD were arguably superior. I know UK machines from the 20s suffer from pot metal rot and fatigue which is a real pity but earlier machines are not problematic.
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- Victor Monarch Special
- Posts: 5204
- Joined: Mon Oct 24, 2011 1:21 pm
- Personal Text: An analogue relic trapped in a digital world.
- Location: The Somerset Levels, UK.
Re: Mystery Motor.
Priced at £25, the stallholder let my friend have it for £10! Apparently trade at Powick was fairly quiet this year.