The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I have a Brunswick with a nice double-headed tonearm for laterals, Pathés and Edisons. Currently, the lateral/Pathé head rotates smoothly to allow the changing of formats but I know that one day it will suffer from the dreaded pot metal freeze. Is there some way I can treat the pot metal parts to prevent it? Many thanks.
Steve

The deterioration of pot metal is a chemical process from within and varies from general formulation to general formulation and even from batch to batch. The process is helped along by excessive exposure to extreme temperature changes and high humidity. There isn't anything one can do to prevent it. A stable environment is good to minimize the problem, but your mileage may vary.

About the only thing you can do is keep an eye on it. If it seems to be getting stiff when you rotate the various joints, you can take it apart and clean it up with fine sandpaper, grease it and put it back together. Be careful and check the fit often as you go so you don't overdo it. I would start with 250 grit wet or dry paper. When you get the fit you want then polish with 400 and finish with 600. Unfortunately, if it crystalizes and starts to break up, there is not much you can do except to go looking for a better one. They are like Orthophonics; there are still many good ones to be found but almost all of them show some damage and those that don't will someday.

Jim

It's my impression that pot metal problems are less of an issue with Brunswicks in comparison to Columbia Grafonolas. What are other collectors experiences? Jerry

Jerry has a good point. The Columbia machines I have owned have had more problems of this type. The Brunswick phonographs have been better.

Columbia is the worst with pot metal, then Brunswick, and Edison and Victor are the best. That's if there is a best pot metal.
Harvey Kravitz

The machine is the 207 which came with the single-head tone arm. As the rotating diaphragm segment was seized, it could not be rotated so I upgraded to an Ultona tone arm (yes, I have kept the original in my 'parts' box). It fitted perfectly and sounds great. I didn't want the upgrade to suffer the same fate as the original. I must say this about the Brunswicks... their cabinets are horrible but those Ultona tone arms are a marvel.

I rather like the cabinet on my only Brunswick. Jerry

I've got a soft spot for Brunswicks. And I really like your amazing tabletop, Jerry!

- Martin

Jerry B. wrote:I rather like the cabinet on my only Brunswick. Jerry

OK. You have me there. That is quite beautiful, Jerry. However the cabinet on my 207 is so thin I can read through it.