My 1A motor isn't running right - too fast. So in debugging, I poked around underneath and see that there is only a single pad contacting the governor disc. Now most phono motors in my experience have a Y-shaped casting which has a pad on each arm of the Y, and pivots at the other end. Mine looks as if one arm of the Y may have broken off (!) - can this even be possible? So before I go further, could some kind-hearted 1A owner please tilt up your motor and grab a flashlight, and let me know if the thing is supposed to be a Y?
What a bizarre failure mode, if this is what happened. And of course it's going to be great fun finding a replacement.
Thanks for any help.
Amberola 1A governor configuration
- PeterF
- Victor IV
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- Andersun
- Victor III
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Re: Amberola 1A governor configuration
It's a 2 pad yoke. I felt behind the governor to confirm.
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- PeterF
- Victor IV
- Posts: 1992
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Re: Amberola 1A governor configuration
Aw shoot, that's what I was afraid of. Well thanks Andersun for the quick and definitive help!
Anybody have a spare to sell? Anybody happen to know if there's an interchange off of a lesser machine?
Thanks again.
Anybody have a spare to sell? Anybody happen to know if there's an interchange off of a lesser machine?
Thanks again.
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- Victor IV
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Re: Amberola 1A governor configuration
I would advise you to wait for (hopefully) more comments by 1A owners before rushing out to buy parts. That looks like the governor in my Triumph D-2 and it has several adjustments that can be made to set the range. Also, is yours a 3 or 4 ball unit? In Triumphs, all of them I've seen with 3 ball governors have one pad while 4 ball units have two pads.
Jim
Jim
- Le0
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Re: Amberola 1A governor configuration
can you repair it? if it's steel it should be relatively easy to make a new piece and braze/weld it in place.PeterF wrote:Aw shoot, that's what I was afraid of. Well thanks Andersun for the quick and definitive help!
Anybody have a spare to sell? Anybody happen to know if there's an interchange off of a lesser machine?
Thanks again.
if you can't find a replacement or repair it yourself I'd be willing to do the job for FREE as long as you pay shipping both ways. I'm always up for a little challenge and if I can help a fellow collector by the way it's even better.

PM me if you are interested.
cheers,
Léo
Machines I own: Edison Standard A, suitcase Home, Home A, Triumph A & B, Columbia type BS, Standard Model A, Victor E, IV & V, Pathéphone No.4
- PeterF
- Victor IV
- Posts: 1992
- Joined: Sun Jul 08, 2012 1:06 pm
Re: Amberola 1A governor configuration
All right then, who has both a late Triumph and an A1 to see if the yokes do indeed look like they'll interchange, please?
Thanks...
Thanks...
- PeterF
- Victor IV
- Posts: 1992
- Joined: Sun Jul 08, 2012 1:06 pm
Re: Amberola 1A governor configuration
I finally got the time to open things up and take a good look at what's happening. As it turns out, each arm of the yoke has a slot cut in the end of it, into which goes a leather brake damper pad. On mine, slot on one side had lost one of its two tines, and thus the leather pad was lost as well.
Until I find a replacement, I created a working temporary solution by taking an old brake pad off of a brake in my parts drawer, and simply contact-cementing it to the remaining tine. Works great so far, and its reversible so the original part isn't altered or damaged.
And by the way, the yoke off an Amberola 30/50/75 type motor is too small for use on an Amberola 1A. I borrowed one to check.
Until I find a replacement, I created a working temporary solution by taking an old brake pad off of a brake in my parts drawer, and simply contact-cementing it to the remaining tine. Works great so far, and its reversible so the original part isn't altered or damaged.
And by the way, the yoke off an Amberola 30/50/75 type motor is too small for use on an Amberola 1A. I borrowed one to check.
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- Victor VI
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Re: Amberola 1A governor configuration
I wish you lived in the UK !Le0 wrote:can you repair it? if it's steel it should be relatively easy to make a new piece and braze/weld it in place.PeterF wrote:Aw shoot, that's what I was afraid of. Well thanks Andersun for the quick and definitive help!
Anybody have a spare to sell? Anybody happen to know if there's an interchange off of a lesser machine?
Thanks again.
if you can't find a replacement or repair it yourself I'd be willing to do the job for FREE as long as you pay shipping both ways. I'm always up for a little challenge and if I can help a fellow collector by the way it's even better.![]()
PM me if you are interested.
cheers,
Léo