The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

There is good news and bad news this time.

The good news is, I finally worked up the courage to pop the mainspring barrel from my H-19 to be cleaned and regreased. Hurrah for that. I even marked spring and barrel orientations this time!

The bad news is, that VV 8-12 motor is giving me troubles again. It sounds like it is rapidly releasing tension, however it is only ever part of the wind (never releases all the way, just a bit) and it occurs randomly, sometimes while playing and other times while just sitting there.
In addition, it has recently begun making the most awful clacking noises when I wind it. Imagine that there is a big chunk of metal on the end of a spring being held against the winding shaft, and every revolution or so it gets pushed out and comes whacking down again. That's what it sounds like. It's difficult to explain.

At any rate, that's the deal, and if anybody knows what's up or has any suggestions, I will hug them at Union. Just remind me.

I'm not sure about the clacking sound, but I have had similar symptoms to the random releasing. Each time it was either
a broken spring at the point that it attaches to the barrel, or it wasn't attached to the barrel properly.

If you try cranking it up many times, will it release some of the tension while you're cranking?

No, it never releases while I am cranking. Only in the middle of a good song or when I'm trying to study or sleep.

It's the weirdest sh*t...

I already hate your machine.

If it's the spring releasing, it has to be a problem with it's connection.
Does this machine have a single barrel with two springs?


If it is what I'm describing, you should see the barrel spin when it releases but nothing else will move.

It has a double barrel with four springs, which is a B and a half to put in when you're stupid and grease them before putting them back. I vaguely remember watching it and I think they kinda spun.

Yikes, 4 springs.

One of them is releasing.
either at the connection to the shaft, or the connection to the barrel, or one of them is broken.

You gots to take em apart again, i say.

But wait around a bit, someone will surely show up in this thread shortly to correct me.

Waiting around a bit is no problem. I will probably procrastinate for like 6 months before I convince myself to pull that damn thing out again.