The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

How does the top of the spindle come off? I need to do some veneer work
on the top of my little Model E. Screwed on or what? Thanks

All the ones I've had or seen have been welded onto the turntable-- I don't believe the ½" spindle will come off the turntable without extreme heat and breaking the weld. The underside of the turntable has a beveled cylinder that slips over a conical sleeve on the shaft. It "just" slips off.. Sometimes easier said than done. The "safest" way is to release the spindle shaft from the motor/fiber gear inside and remove the turntable and shaft together so that you can tap the underside of the turntable to slide it off. Before doing that, try exerting upward pressure on the edges of the turntable and have someone tap the spindle with a rubber mallet-- it might be enough to make it pop off.

Brad

If you're doing veneer work, I suspect you want the turntable off the spindle shaft. Is that correct? If so, the turntable lifts straight up with the cap as part of the turntable. Jerry

Thanks. I need to remove the turntable to do the veneer work. Guess I shall try the upward pressure on the outer part of the turntable and the old strategic tap on the spindle trick.

dutchman wrote:Thanks. I need to remove the turntable to do the veneer work. Guess I shall try the upward pressure on the outer part of the turntable and the old strategic tap on the spindle trick.

Tapping the spindle on this probably won't help, because the spindle is part of the turntable.

You could try turning the machine on its side, and shoot a bit of penetrating oil onto the spindle. You might even turn the machine upside down to allow gravity to help the oil get between the motor spindle and the turntable.

George P.

Nice to know, thanks Phonogfp. Looks like a Sunday afternoon project. Tapping on the spindle didn't work so penetrating oil next. Have a good weekend....

As George said turn machine upside down and get some penetrating oil in it. Load it up and let gravity do some work. Next day use some cedar shims and wedge them all around the perimeter of the turntable. the more pressure the better. Try to get a good pressure all the way around. Now tap the center spindle and I bet the sucker pops off. Keep tapping the shims in tighter if it doesn't pop and tap the center spindle a few more times. Don't slam it too hard or you will be replacing some internal gear.

If still no luck you can apply heat directly to the spindle and go through the shiming process all over again.

Good luck

blizz

Put some penetrating oil using the gravity suggestion last evening. One minor whack this afternoon and off it came. Thanks for all the suggestions.......