NEWBIES: Never Use Vaseline As A Lubricant

[Lah Ca]

If you decide to dismantle your phonograph motor to clean the springs and spring barrels, don't be tempted to use TAE's or Victor's outdated lubrication formula of mixing graphite with Vaseline.

A: "I'm not turning my talking machine into a Frankenphone lubricant monster! ... Vaseline and graphite ... it's the real deal ... authentic to the period."

B: "Yes, you are correct. It was authentic to the period, but so too were cholera, typhoid, polio, tuberculosis, sepsis, etc."

This is all very interesting. I am probably going to have to re-lubricate the spring on my much loved HMV 102c. It has recently started making the occasional clunking noise. I have been watching videos on Youtube. There is a very pleasant gentleman in the UK who has a very detailed and comprehensive video on servicing a 102. He used copious amounts of WD-40 in the spring barrel and let it soak. It seemed to be effective at loosing the old gunk.

[Curt A]

"I'm not turning my talking machine into a Frankenphone lubricant monster! ... Vaseline and graphite ... it's the real deal ... authentic to the period."

So is whale blubber, bear grease, buffalo fat, etc. They all "worked", but stunk and made whales & buffalo endangered... That being said - use whatever makes you happy.

[Lah Ca]

"I'm not turning my talking machine into a Frankenphone lubricant monster! ... Vaseline and graphite ... it's the real deal ... authentic to the period."

So is whale blubber, bear grease, buffalo fat, etc. They all "worked", but stunk and made whales & buffalo endangered... That being said - use whatever makes you happy.

sperm-oil.jpg

You missed the second half of the ironic dialogue.

A: "I'm not turning my talking machine into a Frankenphone lubricant monster! ... Vaseline and graphite ... it's the real deal ... authentic to the period."

B: "Yes, you are correct. It was authentic to the period, but so too were cholera, typhoid, polio, tuberculosis, sepsis, etc."

Believe it or not, I am in complete agreement with your position at the top of this thread.

[gramophone-georg]

"I'm not turning my talking machine into a Frankenphone lubricant monster! ... Vaseline and graphite ... it's the real deal ... authentic to the period."

So is whale blubber, bear grease, buffalo fat, etc. They all "worked", but stunk and made whales & buffalo endangered... That being said - use whatever makes you happy.

sperm-oil.jpg

We all know you're a confirmed WD-40 guy.

[PeteLeoni]

Nothing cleans like gasoline as suggested in the manual. (If you aren't afraid of gasoline, good ol gas will quickly disolve greasy graphite)

My own somewhat less dangerous method:

I highly recommend this for units with springs that are mechanically sound but are sticking and have metal but *not composite gears*

Remove the entire motor assembly from the wooden motor board, tie back the governer, then wind up the motor *while completely immersed in diesel!*
The motor will run down and spit out the graphite vaseline mess.
A few cycles of this and when you drain and lift the lid on the barrel you will see very little if any significant remaiming grease and what is there will be nicely softened.

"Look ma no spring removal!"

Because it's immersed, the governer does *not run away* remains in control slowly spinning in the fluid, moving parts serving as an agitator like your washing machine

Viola' clean motor.
Regrease with blasphemous Mobil 1 Red synthetic grease (duck lighting bolts for your non Vasoline/Graphite insolence)

This has worked for me on 3 "improved" motors from 2021 forward.