Rustiest Crustiest Springs I've Ever Seen

[CDBPDX]

Took apart a 1913 Victrola 3 spring motor and the springs look like they had water added to the grease about 100 years ago. Rustiest crustiest springs I've ever seen. From a 1913 XVI with exposed speed needle. First one of those I've seen, too.

2 of the springs were broken. I think they just rotted to death...

Cliff

[Edisone]

Was it near the ocean? I left an old van in the Coney Island storage yard of the NYC MTA, for a Summer - every hint of rust turned into a big HOLE after 3 months ! (Then I took it to rural Connecticut, where chipmunks stored acorns in it, a la the Elmer Fudd cartoon ! )

[NEFaurora]

Wow, That really looks like it went through the Great War!

)

Tony K.

[CDBPDX]

Here is what it looked like before I took it apart. The ton of grease on the outside of the spring barrels seemed relatively fresh, but inside a completely different story. At first, I thought someone might have regreased the springs and reinstalled them incorrectly. Not the case. Now I can't figure out where all that grease came from. Cliff

P.S. - Please take note that this motor has the exposed speed needle mechanism. First one I've seen.

[CDBPDX]

Just got 3 replacement springs for this motor. Watch me install them on YouTube at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-U7GXKZJZY

A lot of work, but it is worth it when the motor runs as smooth as this does.

Cliff

[CDBPDX]

Here is the mechanism for the 'Exposed" speed needle setup. Haven't seen this before.

Cliff