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I am looking for the elbow for a floor model Columbia Grafonola. Are they all the same size or is there a significant difference I need to be aware of? The tone arm is fine, just the elbow is broken. (no surprise there!)

If anyone has a spare in their junk box that he is will to part with, please let me know. I would appreciate the size information so I can watch Ebay.

Dave

Dave, Columbia made lots of different machines over several years. I expect folks will want to know exactly what model you have in order to be able to help you.

Clay

A pic of your broken one would be helpful...

Ditto to replies above...


Pictures of machine & motordeck area, in addition to arm and elbow wouldn't hurt.


At a quick glance, "all Grafonola tone-arms look alike to me" , but there are several variations.

I think we can help, if we see what you're working on.

Thanks for all the interest in helping out with this. The machine has been in the family since it was new and the lady who owns it is very excited about getting it repaired. Attached are a few pictures to help out.

Okay - great !

This looks to be an early-Teens Grafonola, cabinet style suggests a "Leader" or "Mignonette".

I LOVE the golden Oak; I have a similar machine in dark red mahogany.

The tone-arm / elbow is the "bayonet-lock" type, if you raise the arm vertical to the "12 o'clock" position, it will pop-out of the elbow.

Later machines ( 1918-1923-ish) used a revised tone-arm that use a spring-clip in a groove to secure the arm to the elbow. This later arm will not work with the earlier elbow.


The elbow is held to the motor-board flange by a set-screw /limit screw in the back.

The flange is held to the motor-board by two screws.

I have a Grafonola "Jewel" ( $35 table-top machine with a lid ) that had a lot of stiffness at this arm-to-elbow joint, as well as the "swing" between the elbow and the mounting flange. I was very fortunate that none of these joints were seized, and I was able to get all apart and polish-down the swollen bits as needed.

You're particular elbow was used on all (?) Granfonolas until they went to the snap-ring arm ... I think...



You MIGHT find a complete '18-'23 style arm and elbow that will fit the mounting flange...

These turn-up on-Ebay... a forum member might also have the correct elbow in their parts-stash.



To work on this, probably best to remove the entire tone-arm assembly, mounting flange and all from the motor-board, and work on it on the bench.

If you don't run across one elsewhere, George Vollema is almost certain to have one.

Clay

Hi Dave:

I have one for a Type E-5 floor model, not sure if it will work. I can sell the complete arm and reproducer. I also have other parts available from a very bad junked cabinet E-5. Just letting everyone know I do not butcher good machines.

http://forum.talkingmachine.info/viewto ... =9&t=19591


P.M. Sent.

All the best,

Jerry