The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Hi, I am new to the forum and was hoping that someone might be able to help me identify this phonograph. I bought it many years ago and don't know much about it. I need to have it repaired as the gears are starting to slip, but I don't even know what brand of machine it is. I was told that it might be a Columbia contract machine as there are no marks on the cabinet anywhere. The only decoration is some beading along the motor board edge and more beading along the bottom of the recessed panels on the cabinet. It has great sound, but now that the gears are slipping, it makes terrible noises and the turntable actually slows down and speeds up periodically as the gears slip. I haven't been running it for fear that the gears will be damaged. Can anyone tell me what brand of machine this is? I suspect that it's relatively early as far as mass produced machines go, around 1900. Does anyone have any input? I live around Pittsburgh, PA. Is there anyone reliable in the area who works on phonographs?

Thank you in advance!
Ed.

I kind of looks like a Harvard model. Are there any markings on the tone arm or tone arm support?

I've been unable to locate any markings on the machine or any of the parts. The tone arm is plain with squarish cut-outs and the horn bracket has similar incised squarish panels. There are no markings on the reproducer that I can find. I did find a reproducer similar to the one on my machine on e-bay a few days ago. Here is a link to the auction. They list it as a Columbia reproducer. As far as I can tell, it is identical to the one on my machine.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Original-Columb ... 56693d0056

Your machine is a Columbia BA; sometimes branded as a client machine but usually unmarked like yours. It uses a typical single-mainspring motor similar to those supplied with many other models. There is a brass bevel gear on the spindle shaft (if I remember right) that can loosen and cause the problems you're describing. You're wise to not run it until it has been properly adjusted and tightened. The good news is that it's probably a 30-second job for someone who knows what he's doing.

There must be someone in the Pittsburgh area who can help.

George P.

Thanks George! That answers that! Glad that this may be a simple repair. I've been unable to find anyone in the area who works on these machines. The closest seems to be a fellow in Gettysburg. I'm concerned about sending the motor across the state... after all, if something happens to it, the cabinet is useless without it. I wonder if I could find information on how to complete this repair somewhere? I've worked on clocks and done minor mechanical repairs on phonographs, perhaps it's something I can fix.

Thanks!
Ed.

If you've worked on clocks and successfully completed minor repairs on phonographs, it sounds like you have some mechanical aptitude. If this problem is what I think it is, it's a pretty simple fix.

Just be sure the mainspring is COMPLETELY run down before loosening any screws on the motor!

If you can post a couple of photos of the motor, one of us might be able to offer more advice. Posting photos on this Forum is very easy.

George P.

Oh... any idea when they were building these machines?

Edisonh19 wrote:Oh... any idea when they were building these machines?

1906/07.

If you're struggling with posting your first photos here, there have been several sets of directions given over the years. Here's one, but others are available by using the "Search" function at the bottom of the page:

http://forum.talkingmachine.info/viewto ... 09&start=0

George P.

Thanks for the date George.
Did my original image of the machine not post? I used the upload attachment option, and it's appearing in the post on my computer. Can anyone else see it?
Ed.

Yes, the image appeared in your original post, so do what you did before. Nice machine. I thought it was a Standard X until I looked at the spindle.

Jim