Victrola Mainspring Length Question

[Dave D]

I noticed some spring barrels are marked 17 and others are marked 12. Perhaps there are others, too. The barrels seem to be the same size, so what would happen if you put a 17' spring in a barrel marked 12? Is there a difference that I don't notice?
Dave D

[phonojim]

I have noticed that in the Burton motors, the four spring motors have a larger diameter barrel shaft and bushings than the two spring versions. Other than that, I haven’t noticed any differences.

[Dave D]

I noticed that about the 2 and 4 spring motors, too. I am starting to think that a 17' spring set would work just fine in a barrel marked 12. No need to keep different sizes on hand.
Dave

[AZ*]

Two years ago, Mark Lynch kindly posted a 1924 Victor mainspring chart showing the width and length of mainsprings for many Victor models. Unfortunately, since images posted on this forum seem to last about as long as a fart in a basket (as my friend's dad would say), that info is long gone.

The use of 12 or 17 footers sometimes varied within the same model Victrola, depending on serial number range.

I recently worked on a 4 spring #34 HMV motor, and its barrels were marked 12.