Amberola 1A governor configuration

Discussions on Talking Machines & Accessories
Post Reply
User avatar
PeterF
Victor IV
Posts: 1992
Joined: Sun Jul 08, 2012 1:06 pm

Amberola 1A governor configuration

Post by PeterF »

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.

User avatar
Andersun
Victor III
Posts: 887
Joined: Thu Jan 08, 2009 10:38 am
Location: Oldsmar, Fl
Contact:

Re: Amberola 1A governor configuration

Post by Andersun »

It's a 2 pad yoke. I felt behind the governor to confirm.
Attachments
A1.jpg
A1.jpg (200.23 KiB) Viewed 1649 times

User avatar
PeterF
Victor IV
Posts: 1992
Joined: Sun Jul 08, 2012 1:06 pm

Re: Amberola 1A governor configuration

Post by PeterF »

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.

phonojim
Victor IV
Posts: 1475
Joined: Wed May 20, 2009 8:20 pm
Location: Mid - Michigan

Re: Amberola 1A governor configuration

Post by phonojim »

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

User avatar
Le0
Victor II
Posts: 284
Joined: Fri Mar 15, 2013 12:28 pm
Personal Text: avid 22 years old collector
Location: Montreal, Canada

Re: Amberola 1A governor configuration

Post by Le0 »

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.
can you repair it? if it's steel it should be relatively easy to make a new piece and braze/weld it in place.
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

User avatar
PeterF
Victor IV
Posts: 1992
Joined: Sun Jul 08, 2012 1:06 pm

Re: Amberola 1A governor configuration

Post by PeterF »

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...

User avatar
PeterF
Victor IV
Posts: 1992
Joined: Sun Jul 08, 2012 1:06 pm

Re: Amberola 1A governor configuration

Post by PeterF »

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.

soundgen
Victor VI
Posts: 3011
Joined: Mon May 13, 2013 2:04 pm
Contact:

Re: Amberola 1A governor configuration

Post by soundgen »

Le0 wrote:
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.
can you repair it? if it's steel it should be relatively easy to make a new piece and braze/weld it in place.
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
I wish you lived in the UK !

Post Reply