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I just brought home a nice Columbia BG cylinder Graphophone with 2/4 minute adapter. Includes the 4 minute Columbia reproducer.

Everything seems to work great, though it needs to be cleaned up, a new belt, a crank, and I need to straighten up the winding shaft. I might install 4 new springs, as well. The original springs run pretty well, but not anywhere near like new. Looking forward to the refurbish!

Alright, melvind kindly/patiently explained to me how to add photos. Thanks!

Cliff

I've always liked the Columbia BG & BGT machines. Like the Columbia BY on the disc side, the BG's cabinetry is understated elegance. The two and four minute gearing is a plus. Congratulations!

Jerry B.

Very nice!

- Bill

I hav always wanted a 2/4 minute BG - the 2/4 minute versions of Columbia machines are extremely hard to find, along with 2/4 minute reproducers (not recommended for wax cylinders) only use celluloid 2/4 minute Indestructible cylinders or Blue Amberol Edisons (not black wax 4 min. Amberol Edisons, either).

I have been fortunate enough to find a BFT, BKT and BE, all in 2/4 minute versions. My BE was a 2 minute machine and I thought I would upgrade it to 2/4 minute, like so many people have done with their Edison machines... Boy, was I wrong... original Edison conversions are hard to find, but Columbia conversions are impossible to find. The only way I managed to do it was a friend told me about a 2/4 minute machine on eBay that I should look at. The machine was a total, rusted, piece of junk that I paid $250 for, just because it had the 2/4 minute attachment. It took days to remove the attachment, because it is an integral part of the feedscrew (not an optional set of gearing, like an Edison) and it was completely rusted to the inside of the feedscrew barrel. I finally managed to get it out in one piece and cleaned it up, then installed it in place of thee 2 min. feedscrew and it works perfectly.

Again, congrats on finding one of the best cylinder machines, which is also esthetically very attractive.

So, I was winding it up yesterday and a spring broke, in spectacular fashion. It was just about wound all the way up, and BLAM, all 4 springs suddenly unwound. So, I replaced all 4 springs. I was considering that anyway, but fate has a way of making things happen.
I also have a very nice Columbia BF with a beautiful mandrel. I would like the BG to have the beautiful mandrel, maybe they are interchangeable..??

When you say "includes the 4 min reproducer" do you mean it's a separate item? I have a 2/4 min BO and a 2/4 min BKT and the same reproducer plays both 2 and 4 minute cylinders - or at least I thought so?

Yes, just the one reproducer, it plays both 2 and 4 minute celluloid cylinders.

CDBPDX wrote: ↑Thu Jul 22, 2021 2:05 pm So, I was winding it up yesterday and a spring broke, in spectacular fashion. It was just about wound all the way up, and BLAM, all 4 springs suddenly unwound. So, I replaced all 4 springs. I was considering that anyway, but fate has a way of making things happen.
I also have a very nice Columbia BF with a beautiful mandrel. I would like the BG to have the beautiful mandrel, maybe they are interchangeable..??

The mandrels are not interchangeable. The mandrel shafts are different lengths and different configurations. Bummer...

Am I the only one who can't see the pictures?

gramophoneshane wrote: ↑Thu Jul 22, 2021 9:41 pm Am I the only one who can't see the pictures?

No, you're not.