The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I need to get caught up on all of the posts on this thread, but I thought I would post some additional pictures.

The 2 to 4 minute switch definitely looks questionable and I doubt that this is set up correctly. Do any directions exist on the Internet to guide me through hooking this up properly? As the mandrel rotates, the switch arm slowly moves from the "4" to the "2," which really doesn't seem correct.

I did adjust the screw in the back of the carriage and did my best to get the right adjustment, but I will try the steps outlined above, which sound far better than the guesswork that I did.

Again, I really appreciate the help! I really want to get this Edison back in business and it feels pretty close!

Is there a screw or bolt at the back of the switch assembly? There should be one, to prevent it from traveling - which it seems to be doing in the photos.

I have had to adjust that assembly on my Home A, to fix it in the optimum position...

-Bill

Here are a few more photos, especially of the "L" plate mentioned earlier, that apparently helps keep the 2 to 4 minute switch in place.

pallophotophone wrote:Once again, I would like to point out that I'm 99.99% sure that the right end of the feed screw needs to be retained by the small L shaped clip. The clip fits into the groove that is cut into the feed screw itself. It stops the feed screw from shifting when the 2/4 switch is used and allows the gearing in the left hand side to engage and cut the feedscrew rotation in half.

On your final pictures you see a grove in the feed screw on the mandrel side opposite the bearing. There is a little angle by it that needs to be in that grove to work. the feed screw is slipping back and forth. Loosen up that small angle and slip the grove into it then tighten it back down. That is your problem. You may have to play with the end adjustment after that to make sure it can shift or lock it into one speed. Tom

This video gives an overview on the basics of 2 & 4 minute gearing as used on Home and Triumph machines:

https://youtu.be/0LR5xxupUKs

The feedscrew needs to be engaged at its right end in the thrust bearing clip.

Ah, I thought that open groove looked strange, but I don't think it was installed correctly when I first bought the machine, or I just can't remember. But that makes sense. The first frame of the posted video also showed the feed screw with the end properly attached to the "L" nut, so that also helps. I will hopefully get to this sometime in the coming week and hopefully that will solve my problems. Thank you again, everyone!

You still haven't shown the rear view of the switch assembly. There should be a set screw there, which I suspect is missing, because of the obvious movement shown in the photos.

-Bill

You are correct - and sorry for the late photo - here is the back of the switch assembly and there does appear to be a screw missing. I have never looked back there, but I'm pretty sure that a screw never existed there. When I removed the switch assembly a number of months ago, I don't remember removing a screw from the back.
The switch also has a small foot with a screw in it, but the screw has no hole in the actual body of the phonograph to screw into, it just floats there. Should that be attached to something?
Lastly, I put the "L" piece into the groove of the feed screw and I notice that the switch does not move nearly as much as it used to.

I also uploaded another video of the Home running with the adjustments and to show what happens when I lower the carriage. I'm guessing I still need to adjust the carriage based on the instructions left here previously? I haven't done so yet, but hopefully soon.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1K3LgxdlnM

You'll need to adjust the tension on the half nut. I think instructions for this have already been posted.

You should also put a drop or 2 of light oil, like sewing machine oil, on the feed screw. Don't use anything like 3-in-1, which is far too thick.