The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

David, nice job, it looks great...

Hi guys,

One last question. I received my on/off/speed control knob today and am not totally sure how it works. Setting the Speed of the machine was easy, and it sounds SO MUCH BETTER now that it’s spinning at 78 rpm But I’m confused on how the on/off part works. Whenever I push in the knob, it pushes the spring into the govenor weights. That doesn’t seem right? I asked a fellow forum member (thanks John) for a picture of his BI and his is slightly different than mine (his spring is shorter)

So do I need to cut mine shorter so that it looks like his? Or did I not set up mine correctly. I wanted to ask for advice before I do this. Attached below are the pic of my machine and the pic of Johns. (I didn’t clean the motor on mine because it runs quiet and starts up fact, but I may because it’s gunked up. Also check out what was on the govenor weights. The weights did oxidize, but it seems as if someone put a cover over the weights cause it just peeled off

Attached is a short video of it playing, with the speed set and the horn and metal polished!
David

Mr John's is correct; the one on yours looks like something happened to it in the past. For sure it shouldn't be interfering with the weights; broken governors can be disastrous to a good motor.

Yes, you need to cut that spring a bit shorter, and also put a small curl at the end. It doesn't have to curl as completely as the one in the first photo, just enough so it doesn't want to scrape into the pin as it slides past. Kind a "sled runner" sort of thing.

Don't know what gunk was applied to and removed from the weights, but they look good in your photo.

Here is what mine looks like in both the off and on positions.

Bill