The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Does anyone have a technique for loosening those retaining rings on Columbia cylinder reproducers, such as the lyric? There are three holes in the ring, that I'm assuming were for some type of wrench. Anyone sell these still?

Benjamin

You can make one or use a small pin punch in one of the holes and gently tap it sideways with a small hammer until it loosens...

You can buy a jeweler's spanner wrench, I believe they are adjustable to variable sizes. I would advise against using a punch, one false slip and you'll scratch the ring all up, somebody did this with my early Eagle reproducer and I can't stand looking at it.

I have made them for other Columbia reproducers using a simple block of ¼ or ½ inch plywood with sheetrock screws at the correct distances screwed in. Cheap, easy and it works every time.

Sean

http://forum.talkingmachine.info/downlo ... p?id=34338

Here is a tool I use.

Bill K

I did the same thing as Sean except I used the correct size steel slotted dowel pins I bought at an auto parts store - pre-drilled a ½ thick oak board (about a foot long) and hammered in the dowel pins. Measure carefully and you got a cheap tool.

I do the same, a block of wood and a couple drill bits. A good use for those broken bits.
Blain