Edison: LC-38 motor useable in C-19, for a while?

[Cody K]

I have an opportunity to get a beat-up London Console with a working motor fairly cheaply, and I'm wondering if the LC motor could be swapped into my C-19 until I can get around to fixing the C-19's motor (discussed in a previous thread). I don't think the LC-38 is worth restoring, as it's pretty battered, but it would be useful to me if I can use it to play the C-19. I seem to recall that the LC motor is somewhat different, though?

Thanks for any assistance/opinions on this.

[Uncle Vanya]

Same motor, save for the nickle trim (as opposed to the gold trimmings on the C-19), the single spring barrel assembly and the much smaller horn. The post-fire Diamond Disc motors were designed to accept either the single spring or double spring barrel assemblies.

What is the trouble with your C-19? If it suffers from a broken spring you would probably find it easier to just substitute the single spring barrel assembly from the London Console for the double spring barrel assembly in the Chippendale. It is a bit of a pain to swap horns, wheras changing the spring barrel assembly is a mere matter of four (or is it six? It's been a couple of years since I last pulled a motor apart) machine screws.

[52089]

Same motor, save for the nickle trim (as opposed to the gold trimmings on the C-19), the single spring barrel assembly and the much smaller horn. The post-fire Diamond Disc motors were designed to accept either the single spring or double spring barrel assemblies.

What is the trouble with your C-19? If it suffers from a broken spring you would probably find it easier to just substitute the single spring barrel assembly from the London Console for the double spring barrel assembly in the Chippendale. It is a bit of a pain to swap horns, wheras changing the spring barrel assembly is a mere matter of four (or is it six? It's been a couple of years since I last pulled a motor apart) machine screws.

One other difference - the speed control on the LC motor is not accessible above the bedplate.

[Cody K]

Uncle Vanya, thank you for the information; I think I might get the LC based on that. I haven't been able to get back to the C-19, which I bought at the end of December, because I've needed to finish a Credenza needing a total rehab, first. I don't know if the spring is behind the problem I'm having with the C-19, although it may be worth a try at simply substituting the LC motor for the time being as you suggest. That would at least help me diagnose the trouble, I think, since Edison's own directive (in the manual) is -- if all else fails, look to the spring.

The C-19 was discussed in this thread: http://forum.talkingmachine.info/viewto ... =2&t=15331

On preview, thank you, too, 52089. As I understand it, the speed control shouldn't be too necessary to have access to, as Edison machines are reliable in terms of speed. (I seem to remember that it was made less accessible in the design change so that people wouldn't mess with it easily?)

My experience with diamond disc machines is practically nil, so I'm a bit in the woods dealing with one. Thank you both.

[Phonolair]

If it were me I would not buy the Edison console for a temporary fix on your C-19. From the description on your other thread about the speed problem I don't think it's anymore than some cleaning, lubing and adjusting. I would put my time and money into the C-19 and towards your long term goal of having the C-19 running and playing instead of adding another parts project into the mixed.
Best Regards, Larry

[phonojim]

The short answer is yes, you could buy the machine and use the motor assembly to get your C 19 running. However, a couple of questions first: do you know for sure that you have a bad spring in the C-19 and, if so, what will the LC-38 cost vs. the cost of a new spring(s). It probably isn't worth it. Ron Sitko has new springs for around $30.00 each. Also, do you know for sure that the motor is good in the LC-38?

Jim

[Cody K]

I understand and appreciate your point, Larry, and pulling a switcheroo of this kind isn't something I'd normally consider doing -- I agree that getting the C-19 running properly is, or should be my priority. But once the Credenza is finished, two more Victrolas are waiting in the wings for attention. One will require a longish period of repair to its veneer and reproducing and installing some delicate moldings, while conserving its original finish. The other is a XVI that will need careful attention to correct a few faults in an otherwise fine original finish. I've got a ton of diamond discs that I haven't heard yet, and while I can play them on my Actuelle, I don't think that's a best practice. So I'm thinking of this as no more than a stopgap until I can turn my attention back to the C-19 and fix it correctly.

Thank you too, Jim; I don't know that the spring is the source of the C-19's problem. I've given the motor a good cleaning and re-lube, except for the springs, which I haven't messed with. I've thought about the costs involved, and I can get the LC pretty cheaply, along with its reproducer that I'll be able to have on hand as a spare for the C-19 eventually, which can't hurt. It's possible that I may want to give the LC its motor back and fix up the cabinet at some point once the C-19 is running well (though I'm not very sure the LC's cabinet is worth bringing back from its current poor condition), so I believe that in terms of expense, I might come out all right. I'd just really like to hasten the process of hearing the DDs, which might otherwise be pretty far off.

Thanks again to everyone!

[Uncle Vanya]

Same motor, save for the nickle trim (as opposed to the gold trimmings on the C-19), the single spring barrel assembly and the much smaller horn. The post-fire Diamond Disc motors were designed to accept either the single spring or double spring barrel assemblies.

What is the trouble with your C-19? If it suffers from a broken spring you would probably find it easier to just substitute the single spring barrel assembly from the London Console for the double spring barrel assembly in the Chippendale. It is a bit of a pain to swap horns, wheras changing the spring barrel assembly is a mere matter of four (or is it six? It's been a couple of years since I last pulled a motor apart) machine screws.

One other difference - the speed control on the LC motor is not accessible above the bedplate.

Neither is it on C-19 machines of similar vintage. The under bed-plate speed control was a function of when the machine was built, not its model.

[52089]

Same motor, save for the nickle trim (as opposed to the gold trimmings on the C-19), the single spring barrel assembly and the much smaller horn. The post-fire Diamond Disc motors were designed to accept either the single spring or double spring barrel assemblies.

What is the trouble with your C-19? If it suffers from a broken spring you would probably find it easier to just substitute the single spring barrel assembly from the London Console for the double spring barrel assembly in the Chippendale. It is a bit of a pain to swap horns, wheras changing the spring barrel assembly is a mere matter of four (or is it six? It's been a couple of years since I last pulled a motor apart) machine screws.

One other difference - the speed control on the LC motor is not accessible above the bedplate.

Neither is it on C-19 machines of similar vintage. The under bed-plate speed control was a function of when the machine was built, not its model.

Perhaps, but I own both an H-19 and a C-19 with above-bedplate speed controls. It's possible that various iterations of the 19 series had them and lost them, but the LC/LU/etc. machines never had them.

[Uncle Vanya]

The C-19 in the dining room, which came out of its oriignal home does not have the speed control knob. The machine was purchased in 1924, A 1926 Vintage William and Mary out in the shed is also missing the speed knob. I understand that the speed control knob was discontinued at about the time of the introduction of the Londn series of machines, though of course as always with Edison if an obsolete component turned up in the shop it was liable to be put in to a. Machine and shipped out to a jobber.