The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I recently bought an Opera, (Stanton Auction), that needs a the .022" diameter drive spring. Looking back through the Forum postings I see some folks have used .020 wire or .025. McMaster Carr Supply Company advertises the correct diameter spring wire. It's $4.90 for 100, 1 foot long pieces. Or in other words, enough to replace the drive spring in every Edison Opera in existence for under $5. (I just ordered it today and have not tried it yet but it looks exactly right.)

http://www.mcmaster.com/#spring-wire/=103excc

I see the link takes you only to a menu page. On the left, scroll down to .022 diameter & select "steel" as the material. That should take you there.

When I had the spring replaced for my Opera, Wyatt Markus referred me to a gun spring parts store. I paid about the same price for about ten.