The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Does the motor wind up and run? If so, it probably only needs degreasing and lubrication, not a strip down and rebuild. Use a good, modern grease for the gears and high quality oil for the pivot points and bushings.

BEFORE you disassemble anything take lots of detailed pictures, because actual manuals are few and far between and sometimes putting things back together is harder than taking them apart.. A simple clean up of the motor can be accomplished by soaking it in dishpan filled with kerosene and leaving it for a couple of days. Run it while soaking, then brush the crud off with a bristle brush or toothbrush and rinse - no water.

If the original finish seems to be intact, leave it and clean it with mechanics hand cleaner (non-pumice) - DON"T strip the finish. If you can find GOOP or Swarfega hand cleaner, these work great for cleaning cabinets.

Don't clean the gold plated tonearm with anything harsh - steel wool, cleanser, etc. Use ammonia if necessary or just soap and water, as it's fragile and not easy to re-do.

Once it's up and running, come back and learn how to service the reproducer - relatively easy.

Hello Curt, thankyou for all your information, I need all I can get. Unfortunately it doesn't wind up, which lead me to ask for help with understanding the motor, and making sure I don't assume it's straight forward.
I will gather as much info as I can before pulling the motor apart, and thanks for the essential reminder for taking an Inordinate amount of pictures, your so right!
Kind regards, sal.

Unfortunately it doesn't wind up...

Doesn't seem to move when you try to wind it (stuck) OR you turn the crank and it rotates with nothing happening?

If it's the first issue, it is probably gummed up with petrified grease. If it's the second issue, your spring(s) are broken or unhooked from the shaft . Both issues are relatively easy to fix but will require removal and disassembly of your motor to further investigate the problem. Neither are difficult to correct, but the spring issue will be more challenging if you have never done it.

If the spring is the problem, pay close attention to the direction that it's coiled around the shaft. Before you remove the caps from the spring barrels use a Sharpie or a scratch awl to create an alignment mark so you can put them back on exactly the way they came off. It is also a good idea to mark the spring winding direction with an arrow on top of the cap. When you remove a spring, it may be awhile before you replace it and it's easy to forget how you took it apart.

If you attempt to remove it yourself, BE VERY CAREFUL. Look at as many YouTube videos as possible first or send it to someone to have it replaced. Brian Parlier who owns thephonographshop.com makes and installs springs.

Hi curt, thankyou for your very instructive advice, I have found very little on YouTube, and the paid subscription phonograph site wants $60. US to join before I can look anything up.
I can't find any manuals yet, so every scrap of advice on this site is being writing down in A little book. I will continue to wait while I collect essential information like marking the position the spring before I touch the motor.
As for your question, the handle is connected, turns the visible cogs but there is no tension and of course nothing happens.

A big thanks for your time, sal.