Need help with Amberola 1-B mechanism adjustment. Please!

[Jerry B.]

I have been working on an Amberola 1-B project and need some advice. I can turn the front left lever to start the mechanism turning but I'm having trouble with the lever that raises and lowers the reproducer and engages the feed screw. The lever should go up disengaging the feed screw and raise the stylus from the record. I can manually raise it and it disengages the feed screw but only marginally raises the stylus. When I turn loose of the lever, it falls back down and partially engages the feed screw. It should go up and when released, should stay there. The result should raise the half nut from the feed screw and raise the stylus in one motion. There must be an adjustment that I'm missing. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Jerry Blais
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If it's easier to call and talk me through the adjustment, forward your number and I'll call you. Thanks, Jerry 541-990-0781

[Jerry B.]

Anyone???

[Phonolair]

Hi Jerry
There are some adjustments you can make to the lifting lever that may help. If you pull the cover off from the lifting lever you will see the lever is connected to a rod. On the left end of that rod is an adjustable cam that lifts the half nut off from the feed screw. Also under the bedplate there is another rod that connects to the lifting lever via a connection under the carriage base where it slides, If that makes sense. On the right end of the rod under the bedplate there is another adjustment point to the linkage rod going up to the reproducer. So it should be a matter of getting both of these adjustment points synchronized to lift the half nut and reproducer the correct distance at the same time. Also there should be a spring pulling down on the cam that lifts the half nut and another spring pulling up on the reproducer lift linkage up by the horn and reproducer connection. One last thing to check is the tang on the back of the reproducer, that should sit nicely on the lifting arm there. I have seen this tang and that arm to lift it binding up and preventing it from raising the stylus and weight more than once. If needed I can add some pictures to help visualize what I'm trying to say.

Best Regards, Larry

[Jerry B.]

I removed the cover that covers the lift lever assembly. Below the lever that was a screw and nothing appeared to be attached. I removed the screw and found a flat piece of spring steel similar to a piece of a governor spring only wider and with a larger hole. The end was jagged indicating there was once more. I suspect it was a curved piece of spring steel which applied pressure to the casting and held the lift lever in an up position. Does anyone know if this part has a name and if it might be available? Thanks, Jerry Blais

[Phonolair]

The Edison parts list calls it a FEED NUT ENGAGING LEVER SPRING part# 21868. It was used on several machines and you should have one on your Edison School House machine if you wanted one to copy. I don't know if the big repro parts dealers would carry it or not.
Best Regards, Larry

[VintageTechnologies]

Jerry, I suggest you call the usual list of phonograph parts suppliers, starting with George Vollema and Ron Sitko.

Here is a pictoral list of parts from an old Edison catalog, found on George's website: http://www.victroladoctor.com/images/Amberola%20B-I.jpg

[VintageTechnologies]

FEED NUT ENGAGING LEVER SPRING part# 21868, found under Top Mechanism Parts for the B-III

[Jerry B.]

Thanks for the part number and info. I made something that works fine but I'll check with the parts suppliers for the correct part. Thanks so much! Jerry Blais

[Jerry B.]

Thanks for the help with my Amberola. It's making music again and sounds great. Jerry Blais

[alang]

That is a stunning machine. Great job and congratulations.

Andreas