The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I have an Aretino front mount phonograph and I have serious doubt the snap ring is correct. The problem is that the needle bar came off the mica and I am trying to gather parts for a repair. Is there a simple fix to reattach the bar to the mica in the mean time?
Will crazy gluing it do any permanent damage?

Forget the crazy glue; be patient, get the right parts and do a good job.

I've only ever seen heavy wire - more like ⅛" rod - used for the snap ring. Is that a rubber ring from a home canning jar under the mica?

Here's a reproduction - note rubber between mica & ring -

Don't replace yet....... I have seen several of the snap ring type and have one on my Aretino.

Also, concerning your needle bar, this style needle bar is not glued on to the diaphragm. Rather it is spring loaded and rests up tight against the diaphragm.

I think these are automotive snap-rings ( post WW-II at that ). While they may do the job, and probably aren't hurting anything, I do not believe they are correct, though.

I would favor bees-wax over Krazy-Glue. I think I recall reading in Reiss's "Compleat Talking Machine" that certain manufacturers adhered the needle-bar foot to the diaphragm with Bees-wax alone.

De Soto Frank wrote:I think these are automotive snap-rings ( post WW-II at that ). .

Makes sense, usually a snap ring like this goes into a groove. I checked the housing and there is no groove for it to set in. Time to find a wire.

I have a few snap rings left over from a small batch of Busy Bee reproducers I had cast a few years ago. Send me a pm and I can mail you one for free.
Dave D

Andersun wrote:Don't replace yet....... I have seen several of the snap ring type and have one on my Aretino.

Also, concerning your needle bar, this style needle bar is not glued on to the diaphragm. Rather it is spring loaded and rests up tight against the diaphragm.

Is it correct to have a green metal diaphragm?

Also, maybe I need to start a new topic, but in regards to the reproducer for the Busy Bee, Harmony, Aretino front mounts
Is the reproducer the same for all 3 with just different diaphragms? I see the reproduction seems to have a flat edge where the originals are round. Will the needle bars be different or the same for all three phonographs mentioned?

columbia1spring wrote: Is it correct to have a green metal diaphragm?

Yes, both the Busy Bee and the Aretino had painted metal diaphragms. I have seen 4 different styles. One with the petal pattern, another with concentric humped circles (see pic below), another that looked like a spoked wheel (see pic) and I had one with Mobley stamped on it. It was probably an aftermarket one. I believe the spring loaded needle bar was used on these metal diaphragms.

I have never seen an original Busybee/Aretino with a standard needle bar on Mica. Be interesting to see one...

Andersun wrote:

columbia1spring wrote: Is it correct to have a green metal diaphragm?

Yes, both the Busy Bee and the Aretino had painted metal diaphragms. I have seen 4 different styles. One with the petal pattern, another with concentric humped circles (see pic below), another that looked like a spoked wheel (see pic) and I had one with Mobley stamped on it. It was probably an aftermarket one. I believe the spring loaded needle bar was used on these metal diaphragms.

I have never seen an original Busybee/Aretino with a standard needle bar on Mica. Be interesting to see one...

Where can I buy what I need to rebuild the Aretino? Is it possible to get the diaphragm in Aretino green?

I love the Busy Bee Grand red diaphragm! I have a BBG, but it has a goobered-up adaptation soundbox (you've have to see to believe)