Parts in the future.

[Victrolacollector]

Has anyone thought that many of our great major suppliers of parts and people with skills to make phonograph springs, are getting up their in years. Sadly, I am 40 and getting up their too. Do you think we will have access to new mainsprings and parts when we need them. For instance, i once needed a turntable spindle for a rare Talk-O-Phone, and one such supplier was able to make me an exact replica.

It worries me that we may soon have no suppliers of new mainsprings in the next 10 to 20 years.

[Garret]

Has anyone thought that many of our great major suppliers of parts and people with skills to make phonograph springs, are getting up their in years. Sadly, I am 40 and getting up their too. Do you think we will have access to new mainsprings and parts when we need them. For instance, i once needed a turntable spindle for a rare Talk-O-Phone, and one such supplier was able to make me an exact replica.

It worries me that we may soon have no suppliers of new mainsprings in the next 10 to 20 years.

If I may ask; who fabricated the turntable spindle for your rare Talk-O-Phone? It's always nice to know the name of a good machinist! Please feel free to pm me.

[FloridaClay]

Yes, it is a major concern. I also collect antique music boxes and one of the huge problems is that many of our knowledgeable repair people have aged out and it is getting harder and harder to find someone competent to do the work--which takes considerable skill.

The same thing is happening with mechanical clock repair, antique radio repair, etc. And some of the parts manufacturers are also dropping off. For example, until just 4 or 5 years ago the original grille cloth for Victor Orthophonics was still being made on the original looms. The factory closed and the looms were sold for scrap.

A sad business. Things may be available, but I fear harder and harder to find at an ever greater cost as time goes on. Springs may be one of the less bleak areas, though, as they are used in so many things that manufacturing capability is likely to be around for a long time.

Clay

[Victrolacollector]

[quote="FloridaClay"]Yes, it is a major concern. I also collect antique music boxes and one of the huge problems is that many of our knowledgeable repair people have aged out and it is getting harder and harder to find someone competent to do the work--which takes considerable skill.

The same thing is happening with mechanical clock repair, antique radio repair, etc. And some of the parts manufacturers are also dropping off. For example, until just 4 or 5 years ago the original grille cloth for Victor Orthophonics was still being made on the original looms. The factory closed and the looms were sold for scrap.

A sad business. Things may be available, but I fear harder and harder to find at an ever greater cost as time goes on. Springs may be one of the less bleak areas, though, as they are used in so many things that manufacturing capability is likely to be around for a long time.

That's the kind of things I was talking about, and yes many left the radio repair business due to retirement, passing on or just decided to quit doing the work due to family and jobs etc. I try to pick up an extra motor for each of my machines just in case.

[estott]

With the progress of computer engineering getting specialized parts may become easier - if expensive. I can see a time when you present the dimensions of the needed part to an engineer and it is either computer printed or made on a computer lathe.

[FloridaClay]

With the progress of computer engineering getting specialized parts may become easier - if expensive. I can see a time when you present the dimensions of the needed part to an engineer and it is either computer printed or made on a computer lathe.

They are already able to produce 3-d objects from CAD drawings on 3D printers and also scan in originals and crank out copies on 3D printers. They are plastic, but as I understand it can they be perfect copies to make molds for castings. Jay Leno is already making some parts for his antique cars that way. In time it should get cheap enough for the less than very wealthy to do.

Clay

[alang]

You can 3D print in metal as well, it is just more expensive than plastic. But regardless, that would never work for a spindle or any other part that is subject to large forces. Of course, maybe carbon fiber based parts could be used there, but then we're getting far away from original.

Andreas

[GoCOOGS!]

I am 24 and am really interested in learning to work on these machines as a hobby. I have no mechanical skill what so ever so I would need to have someone instruct me on how to do so. I have already learned how to hone, strop and maintain straight razors. Working on phonographs would be a neat skill to know as well!