Amberola 1A question - feedscrew/half nut tension

[VintageTechnologies]

Problem solved - and it was not caused by the feedscrew or tension!

It was - wait for it - the reproducer lift lever!

When the on/off lever was engaged, the lift lever went down enough for the stylus to contact the record, but not enough to fully disengage from the little "hook" at the rear of the reproducer.

If the little paddle (lift lever) on the stanchion seems to move up and down okay when you operate the on/off lever, the problem may lie with the wire hook on the reproducer weight. I and a friend puzzled over why his "new" Opera was not raising and lowering the reproducer weight completely. Another reproducer he had worked fine on that machine, so we took a harder look at the first reproducer. The wire hook on the weight required very subtle bending to correct the problem.

[52089]

Problem solved - and it was not caused by the feedscrew or tension!

It was - wait for it - the reproducer lift lever!

When the on/off lever was engaged, the lift lever went down enough for the stylus to contact the record, but not enough to fully disengage from the little "hook" at the rear of the reproducer.

If the little paddle (lift lever) on the stanchion seems to move up and down okay when you operate the on/off lever, the problem may lie with the wire hook on the reproducer weight. I and a friend puzzled over why his "new" Opera was not raising and lowering the reproducer weight completely. Another reproducer he had worked fine on that machine, so we took a harder look at the first reproducer. The wire hook on the weight required very subtle bending to correct the problem.

That's an interesting idea, but this reproducer has been used on other motors without any issues. I think it's more likely that the little spring that operates the lever may not have quite enough clearance in that that tight space on the stanchion. Having said that, based on your thoughts I'm going to try my other reproducer on this machine and see if the problem occurs again.