old Columbia phonograph ..just obtained

[Ken S]

I just got an old Columbia phonograph machine that used to belong to my Aunt (first time I seen it was about 1960 (I use to go stay with her in the summers). It was being stored in a unheated garden shed ... the spring crank does not do anything .. and the top lid is not screwed on, I have not done any thing to it yet. BUT: I think it is quite a common machine .. {I live near London Ontario Canada} Any comments ...

[audiophile102]

Ken, welcome to the forum. Your Grafonola will clean up easily and be quite beautiful. While it isn't an expensive model from the Columbia catalog, the family connection is very special. The best way to clean it is a product called GOOP pumice free hand cleaner. Repairing the motor advise will require more information and pictures. No doubt the reproducer will have to be rebuilt and that's pretty simple. Once you get it cleaned up and running, you will have a family heirloom to hand down. Don't play any records until you buy new needles which need to be changed after each record is played.

[Jerry B.]

It may be a fairly common machine but oak is a little more unusual and desirable than mahogany. What makes it special is the fact that it's a family machine. Of all the machines in my collection I have nothing from my family and that would be so special to me. I would:

1- Attach the lid with appropriate size screws. (not too big and not too long)

2- Clean the case with Goops or GoJo non-pumice hand cleaner. Use the search feature of the Forum to find one of many threads on this subject.

3- The entire motor assemble can easily be removed by removing a few screws and lifting it up and out. If spring motor repair is outside your comfort zone there are folks that will do that for you.

4- When finished enjoy your lovely Grafophone. Use a new needle after playing two sides of a record. Don't reuse old needles found in the nooks and crannies of your cabinet.

Jerry Blais

[phonogfp]

Welcome to the Forum, Ken. As Jerry writes, many of us wish we had an antique phonograph from our families. But if they disappeared before we started collecting, they're just not there anymore. Congratulations!

The Antique Phonograph Society has a number of helpful articles for newcomers. Just check in the "Introductory" section under the "Articles" tab. Some of the best ones are on page 2 of the listings:

https://www.antiquephono.org/category/i ... ry/page/2/

Best of luck with your Grafonola, and don't hesitate to ask questions here.

George P.

[Ken S]

I am new to all this .. will have to go further into this forum to see how to repair spring (if indeed it is broke .. rather than crank just unhooked from it (inside some where)
Another funny thing is that I can not pull the rod (that has a top plate .. which would screw on inside the wooden lid .. on it) up into the air . it would have to rise up .. for the lid to operate.
But as this machine has likely been in storage for about 50 years ... whats the hurry

[Jerry B.]

Ken

Another issue which you may or may not have is a stiff or frozen tone arm. Your tone arm should have friction free movement both side to side and up and down. You do not want to force the movement. That elbow assembly is made from pot metal and you don't want to fracture the joint. I think there are repairmen here on the Forum so solve that issue.

Jerry B.

[drh]

It may be a fairly common machine but oak is a little more unusual and desirable than mahogany. What makes it special is the fact that it's a family machine. Of all the machines in my collection I have nothing from my family and that would be so special to me. I would:

1- Attach the lid with appropriate size screws. (not too big and not too long)

...

Jerry Blais

To Jerry's good advice I'll add one point: any screws you replace should be straight slot head, not Phillips (cross slot) head, which were not invented until long after this machine took up residence in the garden shed. If you can find steel screws in today's degraded hardware market, they would be preferable to those of the zinc alloy that seems to be universal in places like Home Depot.

[phonogfp]

If you can find steel screws in today's degraded hardware market, they would be preferable to those of the zinc alloy that seems to be universal in places like Home Depot.

A few moments under a propane torch will remove that zinc plating and you'll be left with a steel screw!

George P.

[Curt A]

Welcome... The lid support rod is probably just snagged onto something under the motor board, just remove the motor board and motor, should be an easy fix...

[cheryla]

Watch this gay for tips https://www.youtube.com/user/1974hurt?f ... ucU5Rn9cYQ