The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I had a neighbor over yesterday, and he remarked that it would be cheaper to run my Magnola Talking Machine (2 spring Heineman motor) with Electricity. He said the springs probably cost more per play than electricity.

I remarked that I had both mainsprings replaced in 1994, that was 20 years ago this summer. I also told him not one of them has broken and I am sure that I have played thousands of records on it since 1994. The mainsprings and labor back then was like 45.00 each, so you figure 90.00 for a set of mainsprings. that's probably 1-2 cents per play, far cheaper than a electric machine costing 100.00 plus and power to run it. Funny things is that those old talking machines will outlast us all.

What are your thoughts? Maybe a good comparison would be which is cheaper a spring motor Victrola or Electrola?

considering how many machines still retain their original springs that can be up to 100 years old or more, I'd really think the answer is kind of obvious, no?

I can't think of a better way to cost out a spring drive machine than what was posted, but here's an electric breakdown.

The average cost of electricity in the USA for 2013 was $0.125 per KWH
An induction disc motor uses 50 watts of power

If you use the machine for 2 hrs a day for 30 days = 3KWH

The cost to operate for a month would be $0.375
For the year it would cost you $4.50

This doesn't add in the power used by the motorboard lamp (usually 7 watts) and pilot light (about the same) on most Electrolas

Adding in the lamps raises the cost to $0.48 per month or $5.76 per year


Chuck

This isn't really a fair comparison, you are comparing cost of operation to cost of maintenance, and the assumption that an electric motor will never fail or need to be serviced. The cost to operate a spring-driven phonograph is $0.

Really zero? What about the cost of provender needed to fuel the prime mover (i.e., you the owner/winder-upper)? As long as we're getting into details....

Henry wrote:Really zero? What about the cost of provender needed to fuel the prime mover (i.e., you the owner/winder-upper)? As long as we're getting into details....

This just got too deep, I'm out

I read the question as "which is the cheapest to operate?" Doesn't ask which is the cheapest to maintain or repair.



Chuck

The majority of my nearly two-dozen spring-motor talking machines are still running on their original springs...

The only machine I have actually replaced a spring in was my 1918 VV-XI, and that was only one of the two springs...

( I have mended a few springs that had broken "eyes" at one end or the other... not more than two.)


So, Victor, Edison, Columbia, Brunswick, and a couple of nameless portables, still going on their original spring-age...

I have lost two springs in 48 years. Most of my machines have original springs. That's good enough for me, I don't need that newfangled electricity.

Zero operating costs on spring driven machines and when the power goes out, they still play... Actually they cost less than zero to operate, since exercise is good for me and keeps my heart healthy, the winding cuts back on costly medical treatments, the cost of membership to gyms, etc. So, no carbon footprint and less medical care actually cut back my cost to less than zero...