The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Steve wrote:I have an original gramophone factory spring winder in my collection

PICTURES!!!!!! (please )

Or, better yet, a YouTube video of a Keystone or Webster clock mainspring winder being used.

Just for you, Brad!









It appears the winding handle has been reversed to make it more compact for boxing up etc, but please don't ask me how it all works - I haven't the foggiest notion!

Amberola 1-A wrote:

Zeppy wrote:I wonder where I can get me one of those contraptions?

And definitely fair use for education.

There are several different types of mainspring winders used for installing the springs into clock barrels that you can use. These can be found at clock supply houses like Merritt's and start around $200.00 and go up.
I've used a Webster's winder for years and they work quite well.

You wouldn't happen to have contact info, would you? I'm rather interested in getting one of those, and I can't seem to find a contact.

Thanks

JP

Zeppy wrote: You wouldn't happen to have contact info, would you? I'm rather interested in getting one of those, and I can't seem to find a contact.

Thanks

JP

JP,

Here's Merritt's website.

Steve wrote:Just for you, Brad!

Thanks Steve,

Looking at it, it is not obvious how it was used. Does the main arbor have a tab to hold the end of the spring?

Anyone have any ideas?

I think i may have an idea as to how this works but Steve do i have you permision to take one of your pictures and add it to my paint program to diagram how i think it works?Otherwise i dont think i could explain in JUST words.

Aaron

I think I might have worked it out too, but I think it's for winding the spring & wiring it, rather than putting it directly in a barrel like the one Brad shows.
The winding arbour should pass through the V shaped parts & acts as a guide to keep the spring winding evenly, and the frame goes over the spring once wound & wired to hold it. Then you pull the rod out of the spring?

Brad wrote:Looking at it, it is not obvious how it was used. Does the main arbor have a tab to hold the end of the spring?

Brad,

I was wondering the same thing myself, and I think that there is a raised part (see the image below)...but I am by no means knowledgeable about this, so please take my opinion with a grain of salt.

I believe that one would operate this by unscrewing the thumbscrew seen below, then sliding the shaft to allow it to be run through the barrel and secured again.

The upright ‘Y’ parts are for holding the barrel in place, are they not?

Please keep in mind that I have no experience with this, and so all of this is guesswork on my part.

— MordEth

Aaron wrote:I think i may have an idea as to how this works but Steve do i have you permision to take one of your pictures and add it to my paint program to diagram how i think it works?

Of course you do! Be my guest, folks. I have as much interest in trying to figure out how it all works as you do.

The more experts who can throw any light on it, the better!

One tiny thing I do recall though is that a single operation is carried out with the device in one setup and then, something gets pulled out and "reversed" for the following operation? Sorry, that's about it!