Early Columbia 206?

[Orthophonix]

Yes, that is a nice and well preserved machine, congratulations! I have never come across an Electrola 102, but here in Switzerland this could happen some time, as I have found all my 106s here and have at least two Electrola 101. Probably it was already then cheaper to buy a gramophone in Germany than here. A nice and tidy workshop you have, mine is mostly a bit chaotic...

The explanation for the 101 horn in the 106 is interesting, because yet I had only heard that probably during the Nazi regime the connection to EMI got lost and they had to go on with own developments. But that would not explain well, why they should have taken an earlier design, rather than keeping the form of the 102 and maybe equipping it with the 4a soundbox, if that was easier and cheaper to build.

(P.S.: If anybody should have an original electric reproducer for the Electrola 106UP and have no use for it, I would be interested, working or not, as I have an 106UP. These are equipped with an adaptor on the tonearm to install a specially designed electric pickup directly without extra wiring, with the wiring and a volume-knob in the machine for direct use on a radio. On mine this electric reproducer is missing.)

[epigramophone]

I expect the 106UP has a similar arrangement to my Paillard pictured below. Unfortunately it has developed an electrical fault which tripped the power in my workshop, and as I am no electrician I need to get it checked by a professional.

[Orthophonix]

Hi, sorry for the late reply. Yes, it is about the same concept, but with different motors. The Electrola has one with collector and carbon brushes, the Paillard is without that and so the more elegant construction in my opinion.
I did not know that Paillard had that built-in volume knob, but it still has a cable from the electric pick up - where is it going? The Electrola has a fixed contact for the electric pick up, and you do not see any cables as they are running in the tone arm (see picture, the brown bakelite ring next to the soundbox attachment). So in this point it is a more elegant solution on the Electrola.



I have one of the Paillard pick-ups, it came with the Electrola 106U, but the insulation of the cables is cracked and so I have never tried it, would have to re-wire it first.

Concerning the Paillard machines with dual motors: I have two of them, the one I have restored is one of my most-used machines, especially when I want to listen through a pile of "new" records and do not want to wind up all the time. They are great machines, with a really good sound and are uncomplicated to use. In my experience they have got two (not too big) drawbacks:
All swiss electric gramophone motors I have used yet tend to have less power than the spring-driven motors, what can be a problem with worn records, or records which do not run through smoothly because of a special surface etc. Then they run at an uneven speed with some audible wobbling (I hope that term is used in english for what I mean). I have mounted a Meltrope III soundbox at the moment, which is rather light and betters that problem. The sound with this combination is still superb, and as the Meltrope is mountable in different angles, you can even play early vinyl records without damage (those still thought for steel needles, of course).
The second drawback is, that with all that technology they are a bit difficult to service, it begins with dismantling it with a lot of screws and a special duct for the winding handle axle, and the motor is squeezed in so that you do not get to anything without taking it out. Then the motor is assembled in a way you do not get to the end of the govenor which is in the electric part, for oiling it, if you do not disassasemble that construct, and I did not know, if it will work nicely again if I do that. So I had to oil it without seeing what I'm doing and a long needle on a syringe... On reassembling you fight with the winding handls shaft again and have to squeeze it all in, and have to adjust the motor position, to let the auto brake work properly. I had spent much time on that, with much frustrating work on the autobrake itself before realizing that it is the position of motor being the problem...
So I'm happy that it works now and runs smoothly with the mentioned minor insufficiency. And still it is a great machine and I like to use it very much. I can only encourage you to get yours in working order again. The electrical problem sounds to me as being not too difficult, it sounds like a short cut in the basic electrics, but I am no electrician either and don't want to encourage you to do things that might create bigger problems...

I will post pictures and perhaps a short video of my Paillard later, if you are interested.
Or we could open a new thread with that, as it is still on the columbia 206/9000...?

[epigramophone]

The cable from the electric pick-up connects to these sockets at the rear of the case. Jack plugs on the cable from the radio complete the connection and electrical amplification is achieved :

[Orthophonix]

Yes, on the Electrola 106UP they are leaving the case on the left side. But you do not see any cable from that in the open machine, it is all hidden inside. You see only the volume knob (in front left side) and the holder for the soundbox or pickup, that is not in use (in front of the winding handle clips).
So this special electric pickup would be a nice addition to complete this gramophone... so if anybody should have one and does not need it, I would be happy if he could contact me.