The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

My Columbia BF has never worked, but now I need to play a home recorded 6" cylinder. I'll make another post about that later.

The problem with my BF is that there seems to be power losses to the upper works. The upper belt pulley has a cone on it which I assumes puts pressure on a small brass gear which slides over the mandrel shaft.

Does anyone with a working BF know if there is supposed to be washer or anything between the belt pulley and the small brass gear?

Any other advice is welcome.
Dave D

Hi Dave,
There should be a washer on each side of the gear on the mandrel. And just remember that the nut is reverse-threaded...

Benjamin

Thanks for the info! Are they really thin brass washers? I dont have any washers there.
Dave

Dave, I'm not sure of the brass spacers, but I think it is another problem. I would remove the belt and make sure the mandrel, gears, etc are free moving. Check the motor and lower works to see if it spins freely. Is the machine 2/4 min or a straight 2 min. machine? Is the belt too tight? Columbia machines are a little more finicky than Edison machines, and need more attention. Once they are running right, they are very reliable.
Harvey Kravitz

Dave D wrote:Thanks for the info! Are they really thin brass washers? I dont have any washers there.
Dave

Dave, they're about 1/16" thick; the one behind the gear is larger, as large as the gear without the teeth, while the one against the pulley is about the same size as the cone.

Phonofreak wrote:Dave, I'm not sure of the brass spacers, but I think it is another problem.
Harvey Kravitz

I definetely agree with Harvey; the washers, especially the one between the pulley cone and the gear, shouldn't cause power loss. I'd put the washers in, then look for the problem elsewhere.

Benjamin