Amberola 30 an 50 motor similarities.

[MidMich]

I was just sorting through some parts. And I noticed this. The motors on the Amberola 30 and 50 are virtually the same, using many of the same parts. The difference is the motor spring ( 2 vs 1) and the mounting to the base. Even the base is set up to use either spring set up. And the 50 fits in the 30 Cabinet if some one wanted to boost playing time. In the photo with all three, the one on the right is a late model 30 and the bottom is a early on. So far it looks like having the ID plate mounted to the top is the only differences between the 30's. You can see the differences in the springs and if you look, you can see the spring shaft cast mount is shorter for the 50 then the 30. But the base casting is set up for both.
Jeff

[PeterF]

Last summer I mated junker parts from a 50 (the mech) and a 30 (the case and horn) to make one operable machine. Yes, the 50 mech fits the 30, but the second spring barrel interferes with the horn during part of its travel.

What to do?

Beat on the horn with a rubber mallet to, uh, gently, reform it and allow clearance.

Works well, with much longer playing time.

It's odd to think about how TAE flopped around making so many oddball Amberola variants before the fire, when the post-fire line was so streamlined and interchangeable. I guess it all came from needing to use up old components from the external horn models.

[52089]

...and the 75 motor is essentially the same as a 50 motor...

[MidMich]

On a side note, I recently got Amberola 30 horn off Ebay. And oops it is too tall! Yep, he had a 50 and thought it was 30. That will not fit in the 30 case, unless some one has a "tall" 30 case. I just put it on the shelf for a later project.
Jeff