The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

As mentioned above the original spindle in this Standard X machine has been removed and replaced with a Columbia spindle.
A Standard Talking Machine turntable will no longer fit this machine. It would have to be a Columbia turntable as is being used on the machine now.

To answer the question about a Standard X and Standard A turntable being interchangeable, yes they can be switched between the two models. But the earlier Standard X has a thin rim turntable and the later Standard A has a thick rim turntable.
So cosmetically it would look a little off.

Larry Crandell

Here are photos of my spare cabinet and turntable.

There is quite a void in the underside of the Standard turntable. The Standard turntable has the extra large cap to accommodate Standard records. I wondered if there was enough space in the void under the cap to allow the turntable to rest on a regular Columbia spindle that has the part that normally protrudes through the turntable where you place the 78. So I tried this Standard turntable on a Columbia BI. The BI has a thin solid steel platter with a hole in the middle. The top of the spindle protrudes through the hole in the spindle for normal 78s. I removed the BI turntable and installed the Standard turntable. It worked perfectly. There was room inside the void to accept the top of the BI spindle.

Why couldn't rbjoep use this turntable for playing Standard records and the one that came with his purchase for playing regular 78s? He would have the best of both worlds. I also suspect his motor came just the way it is currently.

Also included are photos of the extra Standard X cabinet. It does not have nor does it ever look like it ever had a decal. It appears to be worse than what you already have.

Jerry Blais

Jerry B. wrote: There is quite a void in the underside of the Standard turntable. The Standard turntable has the extra large cap to accommodate Standard records. I wondered if there was enough space in the void under the cap to allow the turntable to rest on a regular Columbia spindle that has the part that normally protrudes through the turntable where you place the 78. So I tried this Standard turntable on a Columbia BI. The BI has a thin solid steel platter with a hole in the middle. The top of the spindle protrudes through the hole in the spindle for normal 78s. I removed the BI turntable and installed the Standard turntable. It worked perfectly. There was room inside the void to accept the top of the BI spindle.
Jerry Blais

Jerry I suspect in this case your thick rim turntable fit your BI because the top of the spindle has been drilled out. So it looks like in this case your turntable would work on the machine in this thread.
A unaltered thick rim Standard turntable would not fit a Columbia spindle and would only sit and wobble atop the spindle.

What I find interesting and never thought of until seeing your turntable. Is now I could drill out the top of a Standard turntable to put on my Columbia and play Standard records.

You very well may be right about the motor spindle not being changed. This may not be a Standard X at all (no decal) Columbia made a few different client machines with this type case and motor. So only Standard would have had the flat top spindle. I presume the other client machines would have had the Columbia type spindle.

Larry Crandell

Jerry I suspect in this case your thick rim turntable fit your BI because the top of the spindle has been drilled out

I think you are absolutely correct. I wondered why it was drilled and off center. I don't have an unaltered Standard turntable to test on my BI.

Thanks, Jerry

Here are a few more parts that would be appropriate for a Standard Type X. Is the traveling arm correct for both versions of the Standard X? I know one has a large flower type horn and the other has a small black horn. If you need the traveling arm and unmarked reproducer (reproduction) I will see both items for$140 postage paid (United States).

Thanks, Jerry

I also have this horn. $85 plus postage.

Jerry