Columbia Eagle Type B repair

[Stephen_Madara]

I believe they started the numbering of those at 80xxxx so yours is real early. Nice find.

[postwick]

Duh the little notch lines up with the slot in the cover and then it just slides out. So I got the broken spring out. What's strange is looking at it, it seems like the way the springs are installed when you turn the knob clockwise one spring would wind up while the other would unwind. Maybe one of the springs is backwards?

[Inigo]

Usually the winding gear winds the first spring by the centre, then this same one winds the other by the barrel, and the centre of this last one goes to the motor in the same direction you're rotating the winding gear, just examine it, it's all logical and easy.

[JerryVan]

I don't know anything about these. Learning as I go. What other reproducers would fit that I could get my hands on? This is all I can find...

https://www.ebay.com/itm/256545251132

Looking at past eBay sales, these usually go for under $200. That is a very nice phonograph, which you got for a VERY low price. It deserves the proper reproducer. The one in your link may be a reproduction. Apparently however, it's been serviced by Steve Medved, who is one of the very best.

[JerryVan]

Here is your main spring... https://www.ebay.com/itm/326188022635?i ... R4jH54CRZA

(A Columbia B is also known as an "Eagle".)


Or... https://www.ebay.com/itm/196473749552?i ... R4rH54CRZA

If you should buy this, I suggest that you remove the spring and put it in your barrel, which is the proper, early style.

Or... https://www.ebay.com/itm/266861774780?i ... R4zH54CRZA

[postwick]

I've been sitting here trying to figure out how the heck the barrel could wind the other spring. And then I realized, I think, that once the first spring is wound, then it turns the barrel which winds the other spring. Is that right?

Although I suppose it's more of a gradual thing where they both wind at the same time as the forces balance.

Usually the winding gear winds the first spring by the centre, then this same one winds the other by the barrel, and the centre of this last one goes to the motor in the same direction you're rotating the winding gear, just examine it, it's all logical and easy.

[Inigo]

That's it! It SHOULD be gradual... If not, there is something molesting... dry grease, etc, and it thumps...

[postwick]

So this is where we are.

20240712_080236~2.mp4

(14.25 MiB) Downloaded 37 times

Dumb question but is there supposed to be a needle in the reproducer?

Anything I can do to improve the shaky sound?

[phonogfp]

Not a needle, but a stylus - which there is or it wouldn't play.

It sounds like the reproducer might benefit from rebuilding. This is not a difficult nor a time-consuming task, but if you're not comfortable doing it, there are others who can help you.

Eagles - although lovable and historic machines - are not known for their steady playing quality. You can maximize your Eagle's playing quality by making sure the entire mechanism (especially the governor gears) are clean and properly lubricated. It's very important that the governor itself has balanced weights and is properly lubricated with sewing machine oil (NO 3-In One).

Here's a thread on the APS Forum which will tell you a lot about Eagle Graphophones. You'll also find out why yours is unusual:

https://forum.antiquephono.org/topic/32 ... /#comments

George P.

[postwick]

The reproducer is a rebuilt one I bought off of eBay.

I do have correct lubricant and did apply some but maybe I need to be more thorough with it.

I'm just ecstatic that it works at all. And I loved taking it apart and learning how they designed such a thing 125 years ago. Thing is built like a tank.