The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I recently purchased a Columbia BKT, which the previous owner said had an issue
in 2 minute mode. What I discovered is that it has an issue in both 2 & 4 minute
mode. In 4 min mode it starts out playing correctly, but by 1/3rd of the way
through, it starts to skip a groove or two. I hadn't tried it in 2 min mode,
until yesterday. When shifted into two minute mode, it does something completely
strange... it runs the feedscrew backwards. Has anyone ever experienced this
issue? I believe that someone has tried to adjust the 2/4 minute gearing and
maybe disassembled it, then put something in backward... Is this possible? Does
anyone have a picture or diagram of the correct configuration of the gearing?
Thanks for any help...
Curt

PS - The 2/4 minute gearing is controlled by a lever on the right hand side of
the feedscrew.

Welcome to my world!!! check out this thread which is on page 2 of Machines: Columbia Cylinder machine 2/4 minute attachment HELP!!

Some pictures have been posted there from Zapper (Brian) of our mechanism. I can tell you that if your feedscrew is turning the wrong way, it is probably because the inner set of 2 little gears, or wheels, has moved from the position pictured on the thread I referred to--to a position about 180 degrees counter-clockwise, and is engaging the adjuster gear there. I have had nothing but problems with my 2!! I can't get it to work at all in the 4 minute mode (which I assumed was when the lever is put to the left. I think when the lever is in the "right" position, it should in 2 minute mode. This has really been exasperating, and I wish/hope someone could find and post some Columbia literature on the 2/4 minute gearing. Edison had clear cut directions for attaching his 2/4 minute conversion kits, and they all still work just fine if adjusted correctly!! Wish I could say the same for Columbia.

About the time I started my thread was when I just received my 2nd BK with the 2/4 minute gearing. It seemed to work at first. My problem was that I wanted to clean the 100 years of grease and grime off of everything, and then it DIDN'T work anymore!!!!!! The pictured position of the 2 little gears is where that piece should go on the BK or BKT, and the weird part is I can turn the feedscrew (in the right direction with my fingers) and the mandrel will turn, and everything works. HOWEVER, when I turn the mandrel, the gears won't engage, and the feedscrew won't turn at all. Of course, all of this is done without the belt being connected to the motor. I would love to get mine going! I have spent hours adjusting/tinkering/tightening/loosening, re-arranging, and all to no avail. Since I have 2 complete 2/4 minute gearing on 2 machines, I have even tried swapping different (the same piece just from the other machine) pieces back and forth from one machine to another. Still--no success!!!

Zapper--Brian, I'm not sure your machine is back together again. I am wondering if your feedscrew and mandrel will turn and operate right once you re-assemble everything??

Harvey--Phonofreak--don't take yours apart to clean it, you'll wind up with the same problem we have!!!!!!

Thanks for that... now I know I'm in for some frustration. I wish that whoever took it apart, would have left it the way it was, but since they didn't I guess we have to figure this one out. I'll take a look at the other thread and if I discover any way to correct this, I will let you know.

Mike-GSphono,
No, I never took mine apart. I was going to when I cleaned it, but the screws were too stubborn. What I did was clean around the are, and left it alone. After hearing these horror stories, I'm glad I did.
Harvey Kravitz

I found the problem. It is the little double gear cluster mounted on a small plate. It needs to stay in approx. the 7:00 position to mesh with the feedscrew gear in 4 minute mode. My problem was that someone put them in upside down in the 11:00 position and they were feeding off of the top of the feedscrew gear rather than the bottom and thus causing the feedscrew to run in reverse. The main issue with the gear cluster is that it is only held in place with the same screw that holds the large gear that runs off of the mandrel. It really needs a pin or screw to hold it in the correct position. I fixed mine temporarily with a piece of automotive double stick tape. The lever to change 2/4 minute mode should be to the left for 4 minute and all the way to the right for 2 minute.