Picked up an Edison Amberola V today

[Phonolair]

Very nice looking machine, the thrill of the hunt and it's great when it pays off.
As far as the diamond B reproducer if you find it needs rebuilt go for it. There not hard to do and it looks like it has been well cared for so it should come apart easy.
Best Regards, Larry

[pianolist]

Great machine, great buy. Of the Edison machines I own or have listened to, I like the V best. I play the V much, much more than I play the Opera. It appears there still are treasures to find out here though I am in the south Sound.

Ron

[Valecnik]

It's an early one too, serial no. 249!

[edisonphonoworks]

very nice machine. The grill should have a wavy undulation on the top and bottom with vertical bars, like the Amberola III and DD A 150. They are very nice machines!

[Scott]

Scott,
Very nice machine! Post pics when you get it all cleaned up.

Steve

Spent an hour or two cleaning and "moisturizing" this afternoon. Better? It looks much better in person than the pics indicate.

[Scott]

Now that the outside looks better, my questions is.... I haven't taken the anything apart, but would you all recommend a thourough "cleaning" or at least a little 3 in 1 on the motor assembly?

I apologize for my lack of knowledge....

[phonogfp]

Now that the outside looks better, my questions is.... I haven't taken the anything apart, but would you all recommend a thourough "cleaning" or at least a little 3 in 1 on the motor assembly?

I apologize for my lack of knowledge....

No need to apologize for lack of knowledge. None of us were born knowing about this stuff. You're asking the right questions!

A "thorough cleaning" would mean taking the machine completely apart. That probably isn't necessary in the case of an Amberola V since the motor is well protected from dust and dirt. However, lubrication is important - - especially if you plan to play a lot of cylinders with the machine.

Don't use 3-In-One oil. It will become gummy over the course of a year or two and eventually will just harden up and make a mess. I'm surprised that anyone still buys the stuff. Buy sewing machine oil, or other light synthetic oil such as "Tri-Flow." You'll also want a 20-weight oil, readily available at your local NAPA or other auto parts store. Finally, you'll want some grease. Some guys like lithium, others go with the tried-and-true brown stuff. I've used both with good results.

1) Carefully remove the large cover on the left side of the bedplate. This covers the governor. With your light oil, put a drop at each end of the governor shaft, plus a drop in the middle of the shaft where the collar slides along it. Put a drop on both felt pads that contact the disc. Now put a drop on your finger and wipe it along both rods that support the reproducer carriage. The carriage must glide along smoothly. While you're at is, remove the reproducer and put a drop at the hinge block and be sure the weight can move laterally with little or no friction. Put a TINY drop at each side of the stylus bar where it rubs against the lugs cast into the weight. You're done with the light oil.

2) Take your slightly heavier 20-weight oil and apply a drop on each end of moving shafts and the first couple of gears from the governor working toward the mainspring. You're done with the 20-weight.

3) Take your grease and lightly apply to the teeth of the bull gear (the first gear driven by the mainspring) and the next one. These teeth are heavy in order to handle the power of the mainspring, and they need a bit if grease to prevent undue wear. You're done with the grease.

There's lots more you can do with lubricants (and no doubt others will soon chime in to make further suggestions), but these three steps are a good start. Remember - lubricants attract dirt and dust, so you want only enough to do the job. A toothpick or tiny screwdriver is sometimes the tool of choice in applying lubrication to an out-of-the-way spot.

Good luck!

George P.

[Scott]

Thanks for the lesson George. I have all of the required materials around the house so I'll get this done soonest.