The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I am helping a friend fix a phonograph that they purchased recently and it has a Heineman motor in it. At some point in its life, the governor weights have been tinkered with and 2 weights are the same, but one is smaller and the spring is longer. I am in need of either the governor weights, or just another motor if not too expensive. As always, any help is appreciated.

Thanks,

Matt

Hope you don't mind me posting a suggestion in your wanted ad, I'll probably catch some heat for suggesting what
could be considered a hack job, but I'll share it anyway (I'm compelled).

My wife recently brought home an off brand machine that was missing one of it's three governor weights and springs, I knew
it'd be awhile before I found a replacement so I went to town being inventive.

I took the two governor weights and weighed them on a pocket scale (you can buy them on ebay for under $10).
Then I found a nut that was roughly the same diameter as the weights, after seeing that it was lighter (probably
because of the giant hole in the middle) i filled it will epoxy putty until it was the same weight as the other two.
It took some shaping with a dremel as it couldn't be any wider than the original or it would hit part of the motor.

For the missing spring, I sacrificed a measuring tape that was made of good thick steel. I cut it in length to match the
other two springs, drilled the holes into it and the machine played again like a charm.

It may not be the best way of 'restoring something' but it got the machine in useable condition until proper parts could be found.

Thanks, Vince. I may just try it if I can't locate something for him in his price range. I have electronic scales at work (pharmacy) that I have used for my son's pinewood derby cars-that should give a very accurate weight. There is one replacement spring there already, so it would just me a matter of the weight.

One of the main springs is either loose or broken, so if it is broken, we'll be looking for a replacement motor. I would think I could get a used, but working motor almost at the same price as locating a new spring and the governor weights-maybe...

Thanks,

Matt