A lot of problems with an Edison Standard Phongraph

[Benz]

I've bought an Edison Standard Phonograph around 2 years ago, and it never worked except for the first time, the feedscrew doesn't seem to work at all, and the leather belt is stuck or something like that
Sadly, I'm the least experienced person in these types of machines, and since I'm not living in the US or UK, the probability to find someone who could help with this big problem is almost impossible...
I'm inserting a youtube video, hope that it'll help...

(Double-click the video above or click this link to watch the video on YouTube in HD.)

Thank you in advance!

[VanEpsFan1914]

Hello Benz--

All right. To make the feedscrew work, slightly lift the carriage up with the lift lever on the front, and then push the lever down to allow the front of the carriage to drop slightly. This will engage the half-nut against the threads of the feedscrew and get that going. When you play a record you have to do a few steps:

1. Put a 2-minute cylinder record on, with the end with the title written on it facing towards the right side of the machine where the crank is.
2. Wind up the motor.
3. Slide the carriage to the left side of the record, start the motor.
4. Turn the lift lever which will lower the stylus into the groove, engage the feed screw, and get you playing music.

You do have a reproducer and a horn for this, right? It will need those to make sound.

For the belt--The belt is too loose. Take out the crank and pick up the front of the machine so you can get a look under the hood. You have three pulleys--one on the mandrel, one drive pulley on the motor, and one tiny pulley that's the idler--it should be spring-loaded. Put the belt on the other side of the idler pulley--you appear to have it running around the wrong side where it'll just be loose. The idler should press on the "outside" surface of the belt."

Try those and then tell me how you like it.

Yours appears to have a "repeater" attachment on the front--very nice little piece. Is there a white tag on the front identifying it as from the International Correspondence School?

[52089]

Does the mandrel turn freely if you turn it by hand? If so, you probably just have a loose belt that needs to be replaced. Also check the belt tensioner wheel (the little one that sits on top of the belt and pushes it inward and make sure it's turning freely. If not, try alcohol or acetone on the joint.

Belt material is widely available at any of the parts suppliers listed in the Links section of the board. Instructions for cutting and splicing the belt are on YouTube and probably on this board as well.

Good luck!

[Benz]

Now the feedscreew works and the mandrel turns freely by hand.
I've took a photo of the part under the motor that includes the belt, maybe that could help?
And yep, I do have a model C reproducer plus a horn

[52089]

Looks to me like the belt and tensioner are the issue. Your belt looks old and stiff and should be replaced. The tensioner wheel looks like it's not doing its job because the spring wire is loose or broken

Replace the belt and you should be good to go. The tensioner isn't really necessary until the belt gets older starts to stretch out.

[Benz]

Looks to me like the belt and tensioner are the issue. Your belt looks old and stiff and should be replaced. The tensioner wheel looks like it's not doing its job because the spring wire is loose or broken

Replace the belt and you should be good to go. The tensioner isn't really necessary until the belt gets older starts to stretch out.

'right, thank you!

[gramophoneshane]

Check the belt tensioner first, and only replace the belt if you have to.
That's the little brass roller that sits against the belt. That brass roller needs to rotate easily, otherwise it acts like a brake on the belt and prevents it turning.
What happens is a chemical reaction occurs between the brass and iron and oil, which forms a green waxy substance called verdigris, which you can see around the centre of the brass roller in your picture.
Make sure that roller is clean and turns freely in its axis, and lightly oil it without using too much and getting it on the belt, and you might find the old belt works fine, at least for awhile.

[Benz]

Check the belt tensioner first, and only replace the belt if you have to.
That's the little brass roller that sits against the belt. That brass roller needs to rotate easily, otherwise it acts like a brake on the belt and prevents it turning.
What happens is a chemical reaction occurs between the brass and iron and oil, which forms a green waxy substance called verdigris, which you can see around the centre of the brass roller in your picture.
Make sure that roller is clean and turns freely in its axis, and lightly oil it without using too much and getting it on the belt, and you might find the old belt works fine, at least for awhile.

Well, I've tried it and it kinda works, but really bad
Plus, the feedscrew stopped working again and the record just repeats one groove over and over

(Double-click the video above or click this link to watch the video on YouTube in HD.)

(The record is "It's a Lovely Day for a Walk")

[Wes K]

It looks like you have an ICS version of the Standard.
The silver bar that runs across the front of the machine, just below the straight edge, it is designed to allow the machine to back up a couple of grooves when the typewriter-key looking button is pressed. Is it allowing the front of the carriage to make contact with the straight edge when in the playing position?

[MikeB]

Yes, It's an ICS Standard. Nice machine.

This is my guess:

The belt is still too loose, or just worn out.

Oil!
The carriage should slide smoothly along the carriage rod, otherwise it could create drag. Put some oil along the carriage rod and slide it back and forth. It should slide effortlessly with no drag.

I'd also put some oil along the feed screw. The half-nut may need be adjusted. It can't be too tight or too loose when it engages with the feed screw. Remove the feed screw cover and take a look to see if the half-nut is fully engaging with the feed screw properly, and if it is moving along smoothly. (Again - oil.) You can also adjust the rod that holds the half-nut so that is is slightly closer to the feed screw when in the playing position if you need to.

Also, when the carriage is resting against the top of the repeater (the long flat part) it might also create some drag. I've encountered this with ICS machines, if memory serves. Put some oil along the length of the repeater where it might touch the carriage.

Oil the rest of the machine while you are at it, like this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYUG5z7nloI

Good luck!