The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

One more in agreement. It's seriously not worth trying to adapt a tired old spring. It will fail again, sooner or later. Much better to replace it.

I didn't know Ron would install the spring for almost nothing. I can't hardly wind the spring in because I am old, fat and lazy. BTW, I have machines working today that I repaired the springs in many, many years ago. 45.00 used to be a lot of money when groceries and the power bill came first.

Thanks for the replies and info.
That is indeed a bargain. I will contact him after Christmas.

Just for the heck of it, I tried the spring again to see if it would hold just for a little bit after I opened up the center curl.
I read somewhere that sometimes the arbor pin on the center shaft needs to be tapped out a little bit to make it more proud.
So I did that, but it didn't help. The spring still let go.

Update:

Merry Christmas Eve to all.
Since I have some time, I thought I'd see if I could make a new catch hole in the center of the main spring.
After trying different ways and nearing pulling out the the entire spring (it almost got away from me
but I pushed it back in), it appears to not be possible. The center coils just don't seem to ever "unwind" or
uncoil to the point where I could get in there to cut the broken part out and drill a new mandrel catch hole.
I just wanted to give it a try, and now I know. Now I'll keep waiting to call Mr. Ron.
Alan

AlanD wrote:Update:

Merry Christmas Eve to all.
Since I have some time, I thought I'd see if I could make a new catch hole in the center of the main spring.
After trying different ways and nearing pulling out the the entire spring (it almost got away from me
but I pushed it back in), it appears to not be possible. The center coils just don't seem to ever "unwind" or
uncoil to the point where I could get in there to cut the broken part out and drill a new mandrel catch hole.
I just wanted to give it a try, and now I know. Now I'll keep waiting to call Mr. Ron.
Alan

Hi Alan,
You must remove the spring from the barrel to do that repair. Just be careful when you take it out. I just use a trash can and let it undo itself inside the can. They will hurt you if you aren't careful. Use gloves and safety glasses if you have them.

quick update:

I called and spoke to Ron. You guys are right, he is a very nice guy to speak with and prices are very reasonable.
I sent him the mainspring and ordered a few other parts I need.
When I get the spring back I'll update this thread.


While I'm here I'll ask:
I ordered the water slide decal set from Wyatt's which has the straight gold and blue lines.
How do you bend the straight decal lines into the various curves that some of the lines are supposed to follow?

Next update:

I got the rebuilt mainspring back from Ron, as well as a new stylus and linkage hook.
I'm glad I had Ron put a new spring in there because he said it was weak and the gears seem to be a little
hard to turn, but the more I run it the looser it is getting.
I did have to replace the mandrel bearing with the new brass bearing. The original pot metal one was seized.
I think that's were a lot of the drag is.

Question is: I put the reproducer with a new stylus on and it doesn't touch the cylinder record. Is the weight on the
reproducer supposed to rub on the cylinder record? I'm not sure what's holding the stylus up off the cylinder but might be the half nut?

The weight shouldn't rub on the record cylinder. Do you have the reproducer in the carriage the right way? It should fit down in the ring and the little notch in the reproducer should line up with the protrusion in the ring.

Yes the notices line up.
At first glace, it just looks like the weight is rubbing on the cylinder but it's not.
In the pic you can see that, but it looks like the stylus is touching but it's not.
If I push against the spring of the half nut, the stylus still doesn't touch.
Could the linkage just need to be longer?

From your picture, it appears your reproducer is not all the way down in the carriage.........you should not be able to see the rim of the reproducer....it should be "flush" with the carriage.

Dale