The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Hi folks!
This is my first post here, I'm happy to find this place! I've got an old Brunswick Model 7 Phonograph, I believe it's probably from the 1910's but not positive.

Anyways! I've got it working well and cleaned up a bit, but the machine won't play a full record. It'll wind down about half way through. When you wind it about 15 turns or so, you hear a 'clunk' that I believe is the 'outside' spring sliding off the arbor that runs through the middle.

I've taken it all apart (carefully), and it doesn't appear to be coming loose at the outside (at the can), it's coming off the center arbor because the little stud has worn.

I believe it's supposed to have a little 'head' on it like a nail, but that has broken off, so once it gets enough tension, the stub pops out of the spring hole, the spring spins around once or twice, and then catches the stud again. It won't wind up far enough because of this to play the entire record.

I've tried bending the end of the spring to make it more tightly hug the shaft, but I still have the same problem since that little head has worn away.

On that shaft that runs through there, this little sleeve is held in place with a set screw... I don't believe I have the ability to replace that stud (I think it's riveted in or something), but I thought I'd see if anybody here has any parts that I could swap out here, either just the sleeve, the whole arbor shaft, or the whole spring assembly!

Any help much appreciated, I uploaded a picture of the part I'm talking about. This machine isn't in the nicest shape but it's neat to get it back and working the best it can again.

I'd think a machinist could repair that to work.

I think worst case yes I could get it to somebody... I was thinking of using a dremel to make a 'hook' back in it, but I think it would weaken the stud there's not too much there....

George Vollema was able to salvage mine which had a similar problem. He said he has had success with this type of repair and my Brunswick works wonderfully now. If you can't solve it yourself you may want to consult with him.

Lyonsronnie1 wrote: I was thinking of using a dremel to make a 'hook' back in it, but I think it would weaken the stud there's not too much there....

What you suggested will work fine.
You don't need a very deep groove for the spring to catch. And you only need the groove on the side that actually contacts the spring. There is still plenty of meat left on the rivet to work properly.
I have done this many times with no issues.
Also check the pear shape hole in the end of the spring to make sure its still in good shape. Not starting to rip, wrinkled or worn hole.

Larry Crandell

Phonolair wrote:

Lyonsronnie1 wrote: I was thinking of using a dremel to make a 'hook' back in it, but I think it would weaken the stud there's not too much there....

What you suggested will work fine.
You don't need a very deep groove for the spring to catch. And you only need the groove on the side that actually contacts the spring. There is still plenty of meat left on the rivet to work properly.
I have done this many times with no issues.
Also check the pear shape hole in the end of the spring to make sure its still in good shape. Not starting to rip, wrinkled or worn hole.

Larry Crandell

Thank you Larry. I got it working! I did as you suggested and cut it slightly giving it a little lip, after reassembling it it worked better (now you could wind it 20 times) but would still slip. This is a double spring machine.

So I took the spring barrel back apart, and put it back together with the inside spring missing. I wedged the can in place so it couldn't move and wound the machine while watching it (now I could see what the spring was doing since the can was half gone). Now the OUTSIDE was slipping.

So I took it back apart, carefully took the spring out, and figured it out... this particular model has a loop at the end that goes through the hole in the spring, and then there's a small pin that goes through it that fallen out. Put it back together how it should be, put it all back in, and now you can wind it nearly 50 times, it'll play for almost 10 minutes!

Thank you all for your help, i'm going to go read and post in the other sections now.