The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Tara,

If there's some drag to the tone arm, you'll definitely want to eliminate that, as it will wear out your records. However, it's unlikely that the tonearm is causing the motor to abruptly stop.

1) Be sure to wind the motor all the way. (The Standard Model A has a small single mainspring.) This may cause you some anxiety at first, but you'll quickly develop a "feel" for when the mainspring is fully wound up. If you slow down a bit as the resistance increases, you won't damage anything.

2) Take a look at the mainspring. You'll see the outer end where it is secured to a shaft. Is there any indication/discoloration that it has been repaired at the end? Back in the day, some "restorers" used to repair a break at the end by simply cutting the mainspring shorter, drilling a new hole in it, and calling it "fixed." That can work on larger motors (especially with multiple mainsprings) but not usually on a small mainspring that's over a century old.

3) Try a different record. Some very worn discs will cause perfectly healthy but underpowered machines to throw in the towel right away.

4) If you need a new mainspring, they are readily available at nominal cost. I recommend Ron Sitko, who communicates only via phone or snail mail. Just tell him you need a mainspring for a DISC machine Standard Model A and he'll know exactly what you need.

Good luck!

George P.

Tara;
I agree with George, I doubt that the tone arm is your problem. It has been my experience that many Columbia machines (including client machines)have this problem
along with a problem in trying to keep a steady R.P.M. I live in the St. Louis area and if I can help you in any way,just drop me a message through the Forum.

Bill

hi tare a lot of the chicago machines like standard, harmony, busy bee, united, and aretino have weak main springs my busy bee grand had the same problem when i first got it it would play 2 seconds and grind to a hold the busy bee is a front mount so it needed quite some extra tork yours is a rear mount that needs just a little less so get yourself a new stiff spring and it will play once again
also a as-found machine always needs a good cleaning and re-greasing i have found that a chicago o'neal motor can be as stuck as a house after a 100 years of neglect

greetings
tino

the best I've been able to do with mine was a side and a half with the motor fully wound.
check the governor if it is restrained or anything as there might be something there... I remember digging a hair that got stuck in my Triumph's governor and it was enough to stop it.

Tara,

Since Bill has offered to help you personally, that's your best bet. Bill is extremely knowledgeable, well-known in our hobby, and a gentleman. He will have your machine diagnosed and fixed in short order.

George P.