Columbia No. 26 portable

[Columbia78]

If anyone has ever seen one of these, seen a mention of this model, a photo, any ideas about where it was made, please let me know. My latest project... Seems to be zero information anywhere about it.

Thanks---

[epigramophone]

Almost certainly an overseas model, of which there were many variants and about which very little information survives. It could well be a product of Columbia's Japanese factory.

The presence of an HMV style needle bin and (presumably) a side winding handle suggests that the machine was produced after the 1931 merger. UK Columbia had a long standing contract with Garrard for the supply of motors, and after this expired the last Plano-Reflex portables of pre-1931 Columbia design acquired HMV motors and carrying handles.

Having said that, I have a post-1931 overseas Columbia G-208 with an unmarked motor which is neither Garrard nor HMV, so it is possible that the overseas factories sourced their own.

Roger.

[Columbia78]

Roger, thank you for this information. This is the two spring motor, no markings that I can see. And yes, this winds on the side, with a notched end crank. Do you know around when the plano reflex arm stopped being used?

Jim

[Phono48]

The plano-reflex arm was last used in Great Britain on the 202, which was discontinued in 1938, and superceded by the 206. It is likely, though that left-over fittings for the 202 were sent to other countries for assembly, which is probably what happened in the case of your model 26.

Barry

[Columbia78]

Well this seems like it will be a long term project for me, the parts arrived from Kho, and the crank doesn't fit. Actually the one from the 211 Z does fit and that snapping sound I was hearing when trying to crank it was actually the remains of what must have been the non return spring for the cranking system. So when cranking it up a bit it simply unwinds itself. Nothing there to stop it. It looks like everything else may be intact, which is good. I have not yet tried fixing the autobrake because at this point, it's of no use.

[Phono48]

The non-return springs are actually quite easy to make, with piano wire. The problem is getting the damaged one off the winding shaft. That is held into the motor frame with tapered pins, which can be very difficult to remove without damaging anything. I suggest you get the spring replaced by someone who has done it before, this is a great machine, and it would be a shame to risk spoiling the motor.

Why does the winding crank not fit, too big?

Barry

[Columbia78]

Yes, it's too big around to fit in the shaft. The one from the 211Z actually fits quite well, I had thought the snapping sound it made when I tried it before was due to it not fitting properly, but in fact it was a little piece of remaining metal from where the spring should be snapping around each time I wound it.