Edison Home

[dutchman]

I was playing some of my machines today and one of my Home machines is really hard to wind up. This has been a problem since I got it many moons ago. It plays well, just finished playing "She'll be coming round the mountain when she comes". The problem with this machine is it's really, really hard to wind. I literally have to put my weight on the right front corner with one hand and wind it with the other. Is this spring related or possibly something else? My other Home winds easy. Thanks

Bill K

[VanEpsFan1914]

I've never even seen an Edison Home in the flesh (wood? Steel?) but could it be that the motor has sagged on the motor mounting, causing the crank to bind in the escutcheon?

My XIV sounded like it was falling apart when I cranked it. Well, it was...the back leg was coming off. But the motor was also creaking on the wood frame. Both issues are now fixed, though. This also solved its disquieting tendencies to kick back while being hand-cranked a laModel T Ford with bad carb, as it freed up shafts and the winding ratchets could kick in.

It was really a junk phonograph, I just paid $275 to save it from being chopped for a ladies' file cabinet. (We have segregated file cabinets? Wha--) 9 months of watching it deteriorate in the antique store--I couldn't see that machine go to the scrappers or the Shabby Chic'ers. It's really nice now but not near as nice as that SPIFFING Edison Home! Tasteful period mods--4m adaptor and cygnet horn, eh? Pretty cool.

Hope you get your motor resolved.

[NEFaurora]

If it's not Mainspring related, It could be Mainspring Case related..(The Case that holds the Mainspring).... Here's a good solid theory... It's entirely possible that the mainspring broke one time at some point in the machine's past and someone did a repair on the spring with some kind of small screws...and now it's binding. I've seen this technique done on quite a few Original Main Springs that have broken and someone has tried to repair down the line.

The real bottom line is, that if you want it repaired correctly, You'll have to remove the Spring Case and inspect the Mainspring and the shaft that it sits on and re-grease everything while you're there inspecting it. Something tells me that once you do that, - that the problem will usually present itself.. so you can find out what is wrong and do the correct repair on it. Hey man, It's 117 Years old! (Most likely made in 1901) LOL....

)

Tony K.

Edison Collector/Restorer

[dutchman]

Thanks for the responses, guess I'm going to have to remove the case and see if there is anything obvious. I hear you on the machine being 117 years old, I'm 77 and can relate to things not working like they used to.......

Bill K

[NEFaurora]

Judging by all the Thick ¼" Bedplate gold pin striping...which is way thicker than the Original pin striping would have been.. The Bedplate of the machine was obviously restored at some point in the recent past. Lots of Restorers just usually do a quick mechanical looksee to see everything is operating correctly and focus more on the Cosmetics of the machine, but usually overlook the Mainspring and its case and avoid it like the plague due to the Mainspring and the danger of it being under tension, and of course the huge greasy graphite mess that it can make.

Edison Machines are probably some of the easiest phonographs to repair compared to other brands...Columbia, Victor. etc. Old man Edison tried to keep things simple in design...real simple..

)

Tony K.

Edison Collector/Restorer

[dutchman]

Judging by all the Thick ¼" Bedplate gold pin striping...which is way thicker than the Original pin striping would have been.. The Bedplate of the machine was obviously restored at some point in the recent past. Lots of Restorers just usually do a quick mechanical looksee to see everything is operating correctly and focus more on the Cosmetics of the machine, but usually overlook the Mainspring and its case and avoid it like the plague due to the Mainspring and the danger of it being under tension, and of course the huge greasy graphite mess that it can make.

Edison Machines are probably some of the easiest phonographs to repair compared to other brands...Columbia, Victor. etc. Old man Edison tried to keep things simple in design...real simple..

)

Tony K.

Edison Collector/Restorer

Thanks. I've had this machine so long I can't remember when I bought it. I'll probably be taking it out of the case today and have no fear about me messing with mainsprings. Bill K