The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I was fortunate enough to buy a number of machines all within a short space of time. I have since been working on them as time allows. The Forum has been great. I've asked many questions, and answers have been excellent all around. My thanks once again to everyone who has helped me. I hope I can return the favor one day.

One of the machines I bought was a VV VI from 1916. This machine has not been touched. I see no signs of any tampering, such as missing bearings and buggered up screw heads. But lots of dried out old grease, which brings me to my question. The motor has two barrels, one for each main spring, with a single arbor that runs through both of them. Between the barrels was lots of dried out old grease that I carefully removed. This was original grease. My question is, why was it there? The two barrels do not come in contact with each other except where the mainsprings engage. I see no purpose for this grease. I've already removed the mainsprings, cleaned everything, and put each barrel back together. When I do the final reassembly I see no reason to reapply grease between the two barrels.

But it was there. And so I ask, is there any reason to put new grease between the barrels? I'm inclined not to.

The barrels were probably over filled with grease and it leaked out over time.

Andreas

Yes, as Andreas said, the grease between the spring barrels is excess grease leaking from the inside of the spring barrels. You can find this grease at the points where the shaft goes in to and out of the spring barrels and also sometimes squeezing out the seams of the spring barrel caps. This grease does not have to be replaced. As the greased gets 'squish distributed' along the entire spring length during repeated windings, the excess finds the path of least resistance and goes there.

Cliff

That makes sense. I am not going to apply any new grease at this junction. Just no need for it.

I have discoverd there is no such thing as packing too much grease inside the spring barrel. Believe me, the excess will be squeezed out over time, around the shaft and often around the cap that seals the barrel. I just periodically wipe off any excess and lay some paper in the bottom of the cabinet.

Thought you might like to see some photos of the motor from the 1916 VV VI. The motor is different from the more common Victrola motor with a single barrel. Also the motor frame is different although perhaps the bolt holes line up the same way. You can see the grease between the barrels in one of the photos.

The V1 is a nice machine, I have had several over the years, the one I held on to is like yours, 1916 Oak. I didn't have quite that much excess grease between the barrels, looks like someone just got carried away during a repack of the springs.

I also had some of those 1916-1918 VV-VI machines, but ended up having to sell them. I did hold onto my very early VV-IV and VV-VI, however those early ones with the forward crank have the old style motors and those are very hard to find parts for and are kind of noisy.

These later machines with these later style motors, are smooth and quiet running, and parts are easier to find. They are a real workhorse for listening to records. You have a nice machine their with a very nice motor.

Thanks for the kind words. I have reassembled the motor (minus the grease between the barrels) and it is now running more smoothly and quietly than before. The next question is what to do about the case. It looks as if someone started to clean parts of it as some places are lighter than others. Also the shellac seems to be entirely gone. A common model but still fun to crank up.