Amberola 1A Question

[phonojim]

My friend has a problem with his Amberola 1A. The M reproducer lowers, lifts and plays correctly, however the Diamond A does not. The pictures illustrate the Diamond A lift linkage in its various operating positions. The top picture shows the reproducer linkage in the raised position and and everything appears to be correct. The center picture shows the reproducer linkage in the down or playing position. The third picture shows the results when the machine is stopped and the linkage attempts to raise the weight. The linkage jams and and the stylus remains on the record. The reproducer is seated all the way into the horn socket and locked in place. And as stated before, the M reproducer operates correctly every time. Can anyone offer any suggestions as to the possible cause of the problem and any possible solutions?

Thanks,
Jim

[barnettrp21122]

I'd say that the linkage near point "B" in the picture below needs to bend out a bit so that the lift finger will catch it when being raised. Compare how the M reproducer looks before bending anything. Hope this helps.
Bob

DSC_0010cropped.jpg (61.1 KiB) Viewed 2135 times

[gregbogantz]

You have some worn and/or bent parts. The C-shaped lift "claw" on the reproducer is supposed to have limited rotation around the hinge pin. The ends of the clevis (the two prongs of the forked section of the claw thru which the hinge pin runs) are supposed to be shaped with some extension at their bottom edges such that when the lift claw rotates downward on the pin, those extensions hit the front edge of the reproducer and prevent further rotation. The rotation is supposed to be limited such that the top edge of the lift claw stops at the horizontal position. Yours on the Diamond A is rotating beyond horizontal and downward too far. This is allowing the front of the lift claw (marked "A" in the picture above) to rotate too far so that the flat lift finger on the stanchion (marked "B") cannot engage the claw at its tip at A and properly lift the claw. Carefully inspect these parts on the M reproducer to see how this rotation is properly blocked by the extensions on the claw fork.

Repairing this problem may mean that you have to build up the fork extensions with glue or J-B Weld epoxy. Also make sure that the hinge pin is not bent which could allow this over-rotation to occur. Straightening the hinge pin might help correct the problem. Otherwise, you'll have to engineer some other means to prevent the claw from rotating too far as it is now doing.

[FellowCollector]

I agree with everything Greg has stated above. I have 2 Diamond A reproducers and one of them has this exact same problem. The ends of the clevis were worn on one. You must unscrew the hinge pin and remove the lift hook and try to build up the edges of the clevis so that it looks like the clevis on the Model M reproducer. The clevis is worn and is allowing the lift hook to rotate below its original stopping point thereby leaving it in a position where the lift lever can no longer lift it. Good luck!

[phonojim]

Thanks for all the great information. I've never worked with Amberola 1/Opera type reproducers, so I didn't really know where to start looking. The idea of the claw dropping to far because of worn stops makes a lot of sense because I compared the claws and they look very similar, so I think only a little fine tuning, if anything, may be needed there.
When I looked at this the other day, I didn't even know to look for the stops.

Jim

[gramophone78]

Thanks for all the great information. I've never worked with Amberola 1/Opera type reproducers, so I didn't really know where to start looking. The idea of the claw dropping to far because of worn stops makes a lot of sense because I compared the claws and they look very similar, so I think only a little fine tuning, if anything, may be needed there.
When I looked at this the other day, I didn't even know to look for the stops.

Jim

Jim, Sorry to comment on something I know nothing about. However, I see the reproducer looks like it's not pushed in all thew way. Just wonder if that is indeed the case...???.

[Lucius1958]

Thanks for all the great information. I've never worked with Amberola 1/Opera type reproducers, so I didn't really know where to start looking. The idea of the claw dropping to far because of worn stops makes a lot of sense because I compared the claws and they look very similar, so I think only a little fine tuning, if anything, may be needed there.
When I looked at this the other day, I didn't even know to look for the stops.

Jim

Jim, Sorry to comment on something I know nothing about. However, I see the reproducer looks like it's not pushed in all thew way. Just wonder if that is indeed the case...???.

True: I notice in the second photo, there's a slight gap between the 'shoulder' in the reproducer throat, and the edge of the stanchion. You might check whether the other reproducer has a similar gap....

Bill

[phonojim]

Thanks for calling my attention to the gap. It's much easier to see in the closeup than in life. That reproducer is difficult to slide into the socket, so that may be at least part of the problem.

Jim

[Valecnik]

In the first pic, the reproducer does not look like it's all the way into the socket and bent down at a slight angle, not the only problem but a contributing factor I'm sure.

[phonojim]

Thanks to all for the help. Last week I got a chance to take a good look at this and was able to identify the problem. The cause is that the claw is slightly worn as is the reproducer in the area that stops the claw from dropping too far. There are two shallow wear spots on the reproducer body at that point - just enough to barely allow the claw to slide by and drop too far. Everything else is as it should be when compared to his model M. Nothing is bent, and the reproducer is fitting all the way into the socket (it wasn't all the way in when the picture was taken). We're still brainstorming a solution to the problem and have some ideas but we will have to experiment a little. If anyone has any ideas on repairs please share them. Note: the reproducer body and the claw are both brass.

Jim