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Took apart a 1913 Victrola 3 spring motor and the springs look like they had water added to the grease about 100 years ago. Rustiest crustiest springs I've ever seen. From a 1913 XVI with exposed speed needle. First one of those I've seen, too.

2 of the springs were broken. I think they just rotted to death...

Cliff

Was it near the ocean? I left an old van in the Coney Island storage yard of the NYC MTA, for a Summer - every hint of rust turned into a big HOLE after 3 months ! (Then I took it to rural Connecticut, where chipmunks stored acorns in it, a la the Elmer Fudd cartoon ! )

Wow, That really looks like it went through the Great War!

)

Tony K.

Here is what it looked like before I took it apart. The ton of grease on the outside of the spring barrels seemed relatively fresh, but inside a completely different story. At first, I thought someone might have regreased the springs and reinstalled them incorrectly. Not the case. Now I can't figure out where all that grease came from. Cliff

P.S. - Please take note that this motor has the exposed speed needle mechanism. First one I've seen.

Just got 3 replacement springs for this motor. Watch me install them on YouTube at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-U7GXKZJZY

A lot of work, but it is worth it when the motor runs as smooth as this does.

Cliff

Here is the mechanism for the 'Exposed" speed needle setup. Haven't seen this before.

Cliff