Help with 3 spring Columbia

[victor99]

This machine has no power. It winds up and the turntable spins, but when I put the tonearm on to play, it rapidly slows to a stop. The 2 weights are white and look like they need to be replaced. Would it still have some power if one spring was broken? Or does no power tell me one is broken? Thanks

[Django]

You shouldn't be able to get the springs to wind if one is broken, (they are not independent). The problem is likely to be the governor or some where in the gear train. The old Columbia weights tend to decay a bit, but as long as they still have sufficient mass, they should be able to do the job. Gears meshing too closely, misaligned shafts, incorrect or lack of lubrication can all be an issue. Old springs left wound can also take a set and become very weak.

What Columbia are you working on? Pictures and a little history or a video might be helpful.

[donniej]

The early three spring motor I shoe horned into my standard talking machine would not crank if a spring was broken. This sounds like it may be a maintenance issue.

[victor99]

OK, this machine is new to me, but I tried an earlier recording and with it wound up almost fully and it played through! The first record I played was a later RCA Victor Glenn Miller release. It won't play the earlier Victor record through twice with three springs though, so I'm thinking the springs are on the tired side. There is a little play in the governor like there is supposed to be and it looks well lubed. I put some oil on the pads. There is a twangy rumble sound when the machine is winding down, so there must be some old grease in there too. My four spring machine plays right through the Glenn Miller record and could probably play it 3 or 4 times with one winding!