Craigslist - Edison Home, two-piece bell, and amberols

[Kirkwood]

Oilite bearings which are oil-impregnated bronze alloy are excellent replacements.

Thanks a bunch, John! Much appreciated.

[JohnM]

George Vollema finished the Home and Monday we'll drive from Sandwich, Illinois up to Newaygo to see George and pick it up. George says it runs like a top now! All the other parts are still out for restoration.

[JohnM]

Picked up the Home from George on Monday and as usual he did an excellent job: complete restoration of motor and top mech mechanicals; replacement of swollen pot metal main shaft bearing and end bearing (apparently someone had tapped on the end of the main shaft in an attempt to free it from the swollen bearing just hard enough to break the end bearing) -- this necessitated destroying the original mandrel, so that was replaced. He also replaced the four rubber feet -- a nice touch.

I also received an email from Steve Farmer in Oregon with 'after' photos of the parts I sent him for restoration. I've attached two of the photos to this post. All the nickel-plated parts were dull with patches of corrosion on the plating when I sent them. Steve polished them and retained the original plating. He also re-grained the horn elbow which had suffered probably 80% or better loss to the original paint on the outside. Steve's re-graining work is spot-on to factory original.

Steve Medved still has the Model O reproducer and carriage, and Don Gfell has the horn (which I probably won't see until January), but it's all coming together.

I just wanted to show the board some top-notch restoration work and brag on these guys. They do GREAT work!

[Valecnik]

Congrats on aquiring that Home. I have the same model - although mine is currently without a horn. Mine is awaiting some work on the motor. It is very very sluggish. What I can't work out is whether the whole thing needs taking apart and cleaning and the re-oiling or whether I have a weak spring? Any thoughts on this anyone or is it a case that either or both is likely to be the problem.

I agree a total dismantling and cleaning would be the best but if it's just running sluggishly, you may be able to make it run perfectly with less work by doing the following.
1)Remove the steel rod on which the carriage slides back and forth. Polish it with 0000 steel wool. It should slide effortlessly from right to left with carriage raised.
2)Polish the top of the straight edge (on which the front of the carriage slides) in the same manner
3)Run a razor blade through across the length of the threaded shaft which moves the mandrel across the record. It should bring out alot of dirt. Repeat as necessary. Clean with toothbrush dipped in gasoline, (dont use wife's toothbrush for this) Cover the topworks with a cloth when doing this to avoid getting the crud etcetera on the topworks.
4) make sure the half nut which moves across threaded shaft is properly adjusted, putting just enough pressure on the mandrel that it moves it. If halfnut seems to be giving you problems, you can replace it for $5 or so.
5) Lightly oil the machine in the appropriate places
6) Wind it up and let it wind down over and over and over first with carriage raised then with carriage lowered.
The more you run it the better it works. Within a few days it will likely be running perfectly.

Good luck!

[Brad]

1)Remove the steel rod on which the carriage slides back and forth. Polish it with 0000 steel wool. It should slide effortlessly from right to left with carriage raised.

I chuck the rod in my drill press and with the motor running polish it with #0000 steel wool. Much easier on the cardio system You could also use a hand held drill, just be careful.

I have found the half nut adjustment to be the most often cause of sluggishness.

Good luck.

[JohnM]

Lauri and I visited Steve Medved the day before yesterday at his home and picked up the trowel-weight Model O reproducer he rebuilt for me. Absolutely beautiful, meticulous work as usual. I was able to listen to it on Steve's 'Triumph' and compare it to other reproducers and the sound is excellent. It was also interesting to actually see Steve's well-organized work area. It goes without saying that Steve and his wife are wonderful people and showed us warm hospitality as well. Just sayin'!

So, now the mech has been rebuilt by Vollema, the bright parts polished and elbow re-grained by Farmer, and the reproducer is rebuilt. Only the horn bell with Gfell is not finished.