The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Good morning everybody.

I own a HMV Senior Monarch with two springs motor that used to thump, bump and slap while playing, so I opened the two spring barrels, cleaned the inside, lubricated everything and put it back together.

Although not severely as before, it still thumps, bumps and slaps. That's very weird in my experience (perhaps the springs are deformed) so I suppose it's time to give up and send the motor to some professional who has seen-it-all, someone with a vast experience and who works with excellent tools and spare parts.

Could anyone recommend a very serious craftsman that could do a spring overhaul / replacement in UK or in Germany (or France or Spain - I mean any major country in the Schengen area)?

Thanks for your advice!

Ken Priestley - Holmfirth, UK

email: [email protected]

Volkmar Hess is the best ! http://www.grammofon.de/english/home.htm Click repairing link
I would do it for you but I am convalescing ! [email protected]

Marco Gilardetti wrote:I own a HMV Senior Monarch with two springs motor that used to thump, bump and slap while playing, so I opened the two spring barrels, cleaned the inside, lubricated everything and put it back together.

Did you actually take the springs out of the barrels? If not, then any extra lubrication will have done no good, as that will not remove the old hardened grease which is causing the coils to stick together as they unwind.

Barry

I agree with Steve: in the absence of Soundgen, then Ken Priestley in Yorkshire is your man. He is a very good engineer and a nice chap as well. Unfortunately the UK and Yorkshire are not in the Schengen area so just bring your passport.

Regards

Tim W-W

Wagnerian wrote:I agree with Steve: in the absence of Soundgen, then Ken Priestley in Yorkshire is your man. He is a very good engineer and a nice chap as well. Unfortunately the UK and Yorkshire are not in the Schengen area so just bring your passport.

Regards

Tim W-W

Or prepare yourself for those seemingly extra high UK shipping costs!

Replacing springs isn't that difficult so long as you remember to never let go under any circumstances

Steve

Just to put a final word to this thread: one of the two springs eventually broke and the "precise tuning" work instantly downgraded to the "same ol' spring replacement" exercise. I still believe that the spring was deformed (hence the thumps and bumps) and that I couldn't spot the defect by simple visual inspection. As ridicolous as it may sound, I was almost happy when the spring broke: in the end I finally knew what I had to do.

Mike (Soungen) has been so kind to sell me some of the replacement springs he has in stock, and has also been unsparing with hints and advice, for which I publicly thank him. The springs he sells are a precision-made product of outstanding quality, and I can't recommend them highly enough!

The gramophone is now as steady and silent as new, with absolutely no rumble or thumping left.

Thanks anyway to all of you who provided contacts and names of recommended craftsmen!