Zonophone governor springs

[MikeB]

I am trying to repair this Zonophone concert. The speed will not stay constant and I suspect the governor springs. One of the springs broke when the prior owner had it, and he attempted a repair. Now it looks to me as if the governor needs new springs, unless anyone else has a better idea. Does anyone know where I can get new governor springs for this machine?

Thanks,
Mike

[soundgen]

What are the spring dimensions ? length , width and thickness

[Jerry B.]

I would contact Ron Sitko and offer to send one of the good springs to match. If you replace all the governor springs it should eliminate the possibility of the governor being an issue.

Jerry B.

[Marco Gilardetti]

I don't have experience with Zonophones in particular, but is the set-up in picture all right? I can't see any screw securing the springs at the top below the friction disc, is this OK? Also, both springs seem severely bent compared to how they usually look (in other brands, that is). When not revolving, they are usually almost straight.

[Phono48]

Surely, given the angle we are viewing from, those weights should be seen edge-on, rather than flat. Are the springs twisted, or are the weights an unusual shape? It would be good to see a photo of the screw or rivet that attaches the weights.

[phonodesbois]

A few inputs:
- I think that the governor is not well positionned (see pic),
- looking at a Zonophone motor, I just realized that there is no screw on one side of the governor for the springs. In fact, the springs are going through the disk, are bended and may be soldered on the disk (again see pic).
Hope will help, Jeff
PS: Changing the springs must be rather difficult... Too bad, a complete Zonophone governor was on sale on eBay a few days ago.

[MikeB]

Jeff - thanks very much for those pictures. You are correct - the springs go through the disc. Can you tell me if they are, in fact, soldered to the outer part of the disc where they go through, or if they are they loose so that the spring can slide in and out? On mine, they are loose.

Here is a picture of mine. Yes - I know that the governor is messed up. I honestly have been dealing with a partially botched restoration by the former owner. The springs are indeed bent, probably trimmed, and they may not even be the original or correct springs for this machine. That's why I think that they need to be replaced.

I have fixed most of the cosmetic stuff, and it's looking pretty good now, I hope. The Columbia reproducer should work well enough for now, I assume.

But repairing this governor is way beyond my meager skill level, so I think that I am going to send the entire motor out for repair. I may approach George Vollema with it, or maybe someone else if anyone has any ideas.

Thanks again, and Happy Thanksgiving!

[phonodesbois]

Hi Mike, the springs must be soldered. If they can slide in and out then the governor cannot work as it should. Maybe you could try to solder them with tin.
Same for me, repairing those governors is well beyond my skill level.
Good luck, Jeff

[Marco Gilardetti]

Wait a minute... You say they "must" be soldered because you have inspected many motors of this type and found out they were actually always soldered? Or is it your educated opinion?

Should it be the latter, I doubt about it for some reasons: harmonic steel doesn't solder well, and most of all it's useless as the inner coil around the central shaft is clearly there in order to keep the weight springs in tension even when the motor is still. Also, the motors in the two pictures are clearly of different types and can't be directly compared (see the twin friction pads in Mike's, the way in which the shaft holder is attached to the motor cast, the gears on the background that are completely different).

In particular, the regulator in Mike's motor can't be any longer than that and reach 5cm, as the bottom collar is already nearly touching the wormgear and its driving gear.

In my opinion, the makeshift springs in Mike's motor were made too long (and are also deformed) and should be replaced with shorter units; the top bent parts should not protrude as they do, but should be kept in contact with the friction disc and also be constantly kept in tension by the central coil; soldering them is possibly unnecessary.

[phonodesbois]

Marco, you're totally right! My mistake... Yesterday,I just had a look so this morning, I checked thorougly and the springs are going through the disk in and out without any soldering. Next time, I will take my glasses in order not to confuse old grease and soldering...
I checked the springs length on another governor and found 4.8cm.
Sorry again, Jeff