sticky tone arm how do I fix that?

[RedRiver]

I have a graphaphone made by the AM Graphaphone Bridgeport Conn Tag no. 888 15. The tone arm is sticky and has a hard time moving. Is there away I can fix that? Should I clean it with Blue Magic metal polish? Should I sand it with fine steel wool? Need help. Thanks

[wjw]

If you can disassemble the joints, smear a little valve grinding paste (auto parts store) on them and put them together again. Work the parts just until they free up. Clean , grease and it should be a smooth operator! - bill

[JohnM]

‘AM Graphophone’ is the American Graphophone Company, the patent-holding and manufacturing arm of the corporate structure of which the Columbia Graphophone Company was the marketing and sales arm.

Grafonola shave a reputation for sticky tone arm joints because they are made of pot-metal that swells over time. Be careful that you don’t break it if you try to disassemble as pot-metal can be very brittle. I’m not aware of anyone reproducing those castings in a more stable metal.

Are you in Red River, Louisiana? I may have spoken with you a few years ago regarding a fancy Edison Diamond Disc machine that you bought in Alexandria and sold to Oregon. Is that you?

[JohnM]

Would you post more photos of the entire cabinet, please?

[RedRiver]

here's a long view of the entire cabinet

[Bruce]

For a sticky Columbia tone arm carefully remove the tone arm from the elbow and the elbow from the cabinet support. You may be lucky and only need a little WD40 but if frozen then lots of WD40 and patients (even try freezing).

Once the three are apart use emery cloth to sand down both the male and female parts until they slide together easily and turn freely. A little sewing machine oil at this point will help as well.

Nice looking cabinet by the way.

Bruce

[Phonofreak]

Looking at the first picture, the tone arm and elbow seems to be intact. Before you start to disassemble, apply penetrating oil such as PB Blaster, Kroil, or Liquid Wrench. Let it sit for an hour or so. Make sure you go into the elbow for up and down and side by side. Work both directions SLOWLY and CAUTIOUSLY, and do not force it. Work it until it loosens up. After it loosens up, remove the arm/elbow assembly, and wipe off the excess. Check to see if the arm separates from the elbow. There are many different combinations with this fitting. If the arm can be removed from the elbow, then you are home free. If not, then keep working it loose, and flush out with the penetrating oil. Once the arm assembly is removed from the base, use 100 grit sand paper on the bottom extension and inside the base. Keep doing this until the arm moves side to side freely. Make sure those parts are clean of the grit and crud, before re-assembly.
Harvey Kravitz

[JohnM]

Do NOT use WD-40! It’s NOT a lubricant OR a penetrating oil.

[zenith82]

As the others have said, Columbia tone arms are notorious for this. Many of them were made of pot metal that has deteriorated. I've had some luck GENTLY applying low heat to the joints and using a drop or two of turbine or sewing machine oil (NOT 3-in-1). As the metal cools, it will pull some of the oil inside. Don't use WD-40 - you'll just have a big mess to clean up.

[Django]

here's a long view of the entire cabinet

Very nice. Some of the non-Victrola machines seem to be underappreciated. I am partial to Oak and to me, that is a nice find.