Columbia upright - electric motor !

[De Soto Frank]

Kent Ohio.... $180 B-I-N....

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ANTIQUE-COLUMBI ... 419122ddd2

[Phonofreak]

I think it had a spring motor replaced with a modern electric motor. In the description, the motor plate isn't shown.
Harvey Kravitz

[De Soto Frank]

Harvey,

I don't know...

I looked at the photos pretty closely before posting it here, and while the photos are not the clearest, that looks like a stock Columbia platter and spindle of the era, and what I assume is either a speed control or on/off switch knob over by the spent-needle cup looks to be old.

It looks like there's a motor-plate mounted on nickel-plated stand-off washers ? If it is a conversion, I think it was done a long, long time ago...

I will admit that the white "zip-cord" emanating from the hole in the side does not inspire confidence...

The Machine is one of the more expensive "standard" models ( Nonpareil ?), with the four, lettered tip-out bins and a pull-out drawer underneath. I have the spring-motor version of this machine, and I believe it has a four-spring motor ( at least three... .

It's a 5-½ hour drive each way for me... still pretty darned tempting...

[jharrellh]

I have an identical machine that I purchased 20 years ago and have not seen another until now. Mine is missing the standoffs, so I find this very interesting - without them, the switch mechanism hits the motorboard. I always suspected it had thick felt or similar as a spacer. The control knob near the needle cup is the speed control, the motor is switched on/off by the tone arm moving.

[FloridaClay]

Could be a nice buy for someone if it does turn out to be the original motor on inspection. Some reproduction cloth-covered wire and a repro period plug are easy to come by (e.g., see http://www.sundialwire.com). Likely somebody just grabbed an extension cord or some lamp wire to use when the original power cord rotted. Not unusual.

Clay

[estott]

If that is a replacement electric motor it could be an early replacement.

[De Soto Frank]

I have an identical machine that I purchased 20 years ago and have not seen another until now. Mine is missing the standoffs, so I find this very interesting - without them, the switch mechanism hits the motorboard. I always suspected it had thick felt or similar as a spacer. The control knob near the needle cup is the speed control, the motor is switched on/off by the tone arm moving.

J Harrell,

Does your example have a "Universal" type motor with brushes ( like a vacuum-cleaner or kitchen mixer ), or is it an induction motor, like an Orthophonic Victrola ? How noisy / quiet is it ?


Thanks,

Frank

[jharrellh]

Hi Frank, it's a universal motor and very quiet.





Pardon the cellphone pics!

[Phonofreak]

If the seller has pictures of the motor, then it would be a good buy. But with out pictures and that 1960's cord, I'm very skeptical.
Harvey Kravitz

[De Soto Frank]

Update... I took a leap of faith and bought this machine a few weeks back, and brought it home this past week.


It is a legitimate Grafonola Nonpareil or 200, with the "Universal"-type electric motor.

It needs some TLC, but generally is in decent shape.

I was concerned about that white zip-cord emanating from the crank hole ( as a sign of gross buggery ), and while the cord itself is a recent make-do, that IS the original cord exit for the machine ( Really, Columbia? ). The original "slick" four-face instruction leaflet shows the machine in a ¾ front view from the "wind-side", with the cord hanging from the crank-hole, neatly bundled in a hank, with an adapter to fit a medium-Edison light socket !

The motor plate is raised off the wooden deck by nickel-plated stand-off collars, for ventilation.

Presently, the lateral swing-joint for the tone-arm is seized ( previous owner just unfastened the flange from the motor-plate, so that it "could still work" ), but that will be resolved in time.

Many thanks to those who replied to this thread, especially Jharrell !

Will make a proper post up in "Featured Phonographs" once Holy Week and Easter are behind us.