The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Hi everyone,

I'm starting a project and want to give each and every one of my portables a thorough cleaning (inside and outside).

Mainly, I want to regrease the springs in all of them, especially my Columbia 113a and HMV 102s (red + green versions).

I have experience from cleaning the springs on my table-top VV-IX and Credenza.

As far as portables go, however, I haven't found anything online that would show a schematic or instruct me about doing it.

I figure each motor functions on the same principles, but as I've paid a lot of money for all of my portables (some more than the Credenza) I'd rather go about it with a more careful approach. Plus, their size also makes for a more careful (dis)assembly that if not done properly (or in sequence) I'm afraid would ruin the leather/padding.

...or should I simply use my local service option? (he has decades of experience changing springs in portables and uprights)

Thanks in advance!

The HMV 102 is a simple one to overhaul. Take the turntable and soundbox off, and place out of harm's way. Insert the winding key, remove all the motor board screws, (including the ones holding the arm retaining clip), and then, holding the edge of the internal horn with one hand, and the winding handle with the other, lift out the motor board. Unscrew the three bolts holding the arm, and lift the arm off. Now remove the remaining woodscrews holding the internal horn to the motor board.You can now work on the motor without removing it from the board, or remove it if you want to give the motor a thorough clean. Obviously you know about letting the motor run down completely etc.etc. There is a spring clip which keeps the lid on the spring barrel. It's a pig to get off, and worse to get back. Working on the principal that if it came off, it must go back on, be patient, and you'll get there.

The Columbia 113A can be a little more difficult, as the motor board is built into the cabinet, and cannot be removed. The motor is fixed to the brass plate under the turntable. Remove the winding handle. It should come out together with it's extension shaft, but sometimes it leaves the extension screwed onto the motor. If it does come out with the extension attached, then you can remove the brass plate complete with the motor, but if it leaves the extension attached to the motor you'll have to adopt the following method. Don't try removing the brass plate complete with motor, it won't come out, due to the handle extension fouling the cabinet. You have to undo the bolts holding the motor to the brass plate with one hand, whilst gripping the centre spindle with the other, and when all the bolts are out gently lower the motor onto the bottom of the cabinet. Once the motor is free, then remove the screws holding the brass plate to the motor board, and remove the plate. Now lift out the motor. Remove the handle extension from the winding shaft of the motor, and attach it to the winding handle tightly, so that if the handle needs to be removed in the future, the extension will be attached to it, as it should be. Once the motor is ready to go back in, place it in the bottom of the cabinet, replace the brass plate loosely over it, grasp the motor main spindle and lift, lining up the bolt holes. Replace the the motor bolts, then the plate fixing screws, and finally the winding handle.