Columbia BC Restoration Questions
Posted: Tue Oct 12, 2021 11:21 am
I am a new owner of a Columbia BC. I expect I will be asking a lot of perhaps stupid questions as I move through restoration, but here are my first two.
QUESTION 1
I encountered something unexpected on the Higham reproducer. Between the friction shoe and floating bar that supports the stylus arm is a yellowish solid that almost looks like a deteriorated rubber bumper stuck to the friction shoe. The only photos I have found of Higham’s with original parts aren’t quite close enough for me to absolutely determine that this is a foreign object, possibly something that solidified from an ill-conceived cleaning of the amber wheel. But before I removed it I just wanted to be absolutely sure that it is foreign. Please let me know. Pictures of the object included below.
QUESTION 2
As you are aware operation instructions appear on a label on the flip down front door. I was surprised when they stated the motor should not to be started until the stylus has been lowered onto the record. When the record is finished, the motor should be stopped, then the stylus raised. The motor should not be run unless a record is being played.
Since the friction shoe is in constant contact with the rotating amber wheel, but under less tension when the stylus is raised, I assume there might be a fear of slightly reshaping the amber wheel if the Graphophone is run in this state for a period of time. Does anyone think that might be the idea, or have other suggestions? I just thought these instructions were interesting.
I will say, many cylinder machine motors don’t have the umph to start a record and engaged feedscrew from a dead stop. The BC certainly does have the torque needed.
Anyway, let me know if you have any BC suggestions. Many thanks,
Steve
QUESTION 1
I encountered something unexpected on the Higham reproducer. Between the friction shoe and floating bar that supports the stylus arm is a yellowish solid that almost looks like a deteriorated rubber bumper stuck to the friction shoe. The only photos I have found of Higham’s with original parts aren’t quite close enough for me to absolutely determine that this is a foreign object, possibly something that solidified from an ill-conceived cleaning of the amber wheel. But before I removed it I just wanted to be absolutely sure that it is foreign. Please let me know. Pictures of the object included below.
QUESTION 2
As you are aware operation instructions appear on a label on the flip down front door. I was surprised when they stated the motor should not to be started until the stylus has been lowered onto the record. When the record is finished, the motor should be stopped, then the stylus raised. The motor should not be run unless a record is being played.
Since the friction shoe is in constant contact with the rotating amber wheel, but under less tension when the stylus is raised, I assume there might be a fear of slightly reshaping the amber wheel if the Graphophone is run in this state for a period of time. Does anyone think that might be the idea, or have other suggestions? I just thought these instructions were interesting.
I will say, many cylinder machine motors don’t have the umph to start a record and engaged feedscrew from a dead stop. The BC certainly does have the torque needed.
Anyway, let me know if you have any BC suggestions. Many thanks,
Steve