The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I'm rebuilding an Edison Fireside A and found something I've never seen before. The governor has an extra collar on the shaft and a wire spring(?) that connects from this collar to the collar at the stationary end of the centrifugal weight springs. Granted, I've only seen a few Fireside motors, but I don't recall seeing anything like this before. What is it for? Is it standard equipment on governors?

Thanks! Cliff

I think this is supposed to reduce flutter. I've seen these on later Standard motors. I wouldn't be surprised if they're on other machines beside the Standard and Fireside. I can't say that I've ever noticed that they perform any better than the earlier version. Kind of neat, though...

Martin

they seem to have used this type of governor on a variety of machines. I have seen them on a variety of machines from a Gem D all the way up to Triumph Ds. Not sure how these are supposed to be set up. Anyone know?

Jim

Further inspection of this governor shows that the ordinarily stationary end of the springs does not have a set screw and is actually 'floating'. Don't know if it supposed to be that way or if it fell out, but it seems to work OK as is. The wire spring appears to be securing that end of the governor sufficiently for the motor to work.

CDB

CDBPDX wrote:Further inspection of this governor shows that the ordinarily stationary end of the springs does not have a set screw and is actually 'floating'.

CDB

Yep. All of the ones I've seen are that way. The only thing I can figure is that the extra twist that wire can take was supposed to smooth out speed irregularities. I guess every little bit helps.

Martin