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I have a Victor 1 that I like a lot but I was wondering if there is such a thing possible as fitting a different spring to make it play a little longer without altering the appearance of the motor at all. It will play a 10" record if i wind it tight, but just barely.

I asked George Vollema already but he says he's not aware of anything, so I thought I'd throw it out here.

The machine runs fine; no thumps or bumps and the spring seems strong but if I could just get it to run, say, another minute or 30 secs...

If this is an early small case Victor I, that's how they originally came from the factory. I'd leave it alone, and enjoy it as it is. I use mine to play the smaller records. A later Victor I, in a larger case, had a bigger motor to play longer.
Harvey Kravitz

Phonofreak wrote:If this is an early small case Victor I, that's how they originally came from the factory. I'd leave it alone, and enjoy it as it is. I use mine to play the smaller records. A later Victor I, in a larger case, had a bigger motor to play longer.
Harvey Kravitz

It is, and yes, I'm sure there's nothing wrong with it... but a boy can dream, yes?

Ron Sitko has a large inventory of freshly made springs and he is very knowledgeable about motors. I'd check with him to see if he could provide a spring that would comfortably fit in your spring barrel, but maybe a couple feet longer or a tiny bit thicker than the factory specs call for. Either should provide a bit more play time.

Cliff

A thicker spring will give you more power, but not necessarily more run time, (actually it will probably give you slightly less run time due to its added thickness taking more space in the barrel and allowing less winding revolutions on the crank). A longer spring will theoretically give you more run time, but only if you can put it in a larger spring barrel, which you can't.

It's probably the case that your Vic 1 was intended to play 7" discs, which its one spring could easily handle. You're playing 10" discs on it, which would max it out.

JerryVan wrote:A thicker spring will give you more power, but not necessarily more run time, (actually it will probably give you slightly less run time due to its added thickness taking more space in the barrel and allowing less winding revolutions on the crank). A longer spring will theoretically give you more run time, but only if you can put it in a larger spring barrel, which you can't.

It's probably the case that your Vic 1 was intended to play 7" discs, which its one spring could easily handle. You're playing 10" discs on it, which would max it out.

After some thought, I do agree that a thicker spring won't add run time, but a longer spring definitely would. The size of the spring barrel doesn't make a difference. A good example is the later Victor spring barrels that accommodate either a 9' spring or a 17' spring. The 17' spring provides more play time than a 9' spring and in the same size spring barrel. There should be enough space in the VIC I spring barrel for an additional foot or two of spring over the factory spec spring length. I've done this to add play time to smaller motors in portable and budget machines with great success. It should also work in a VIC I motor. Cliff

CDBPDX wrote:

JerryVan wrote:A thicker spring will give you more power, but not necessarily more run time, (actually it will probably give you slightly less run time due to its added thickness taking more space in the barrel and allowing less winding revolutions on the crank). A longer spring will theoretically give you more run time, but only if you can put it in a larger spring barrel, which you can't.

It's probably the case that your Vic 1 was intended to play 7" discs, which its one spring could easily handle. You're playing 10" discs on it, which would max it out.

After some thought, I do agree that a thicker spring won't add run time, but a longer spring definitely would. The size of the spring barrel doesn't make a difference. A good example is the later Victor spring barrels that accommodate either a 9' spring or a 17' spring. The 17' spring provides more play time than a 9' spring and in the same size spring barrel. There should be enough space in the VIC I spring barrel for an additional foot or two of spring over the factory spec spring length. I've done this to add play time to smaller motors in portable and budget machines with great success. It should also work in a VIC I motor. Cliff

Yes, but the Victor spring barrel was designed to hold a 17' spring. In that situation, putting a shorter one in is no problem. However, the Vic 1 barrel was made to house the spring it's got, and nothing bigger.

JerryVan wrote:

CDBPDX wrote:

JerryVan wrote:A thicker spring will give you more power, but not necessarily more run time, (actually it will probably give you slightly less run time due to its added thickness taking more space in the barrel and allowing less winding revolutions on the crank). A longer spring will theoretically give you more run time, but only if you can put it in a larger spring barrel, which you can't.

It's probably the case that your Vic 1 was intended to play 7" discs, which its one spring could easily handle. You're playing 10" discs on it, which would max it out.

After some thought, I do agree that a thicker spring won't add run time, but a longer spring definitely would. The size of the spring barrel doesn't make a difference. A good example is the later Victor spring barrels that accommodate either a 9' spring or a 17' spring. The 17' spring provides more play time than a 9' spring and in the same size spring barrel. There should be enough space in the VIC I spring barrel for an additional foot or two of spring over the factory spec spring length. I've done this to add play time to smaller motors in portable and budget machines with great success. It should also work in a VIC I motor. Cliff

Yes, but the Victor spring barrel was designed to hold a 17' spring. In that situation, putting a shorter one in is no problem. However, the Vic 1 barrel was made to house the spring it's got, and nothing bigger.

The answer I was looking for. Thanks.