The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I'm working on an Edison Gem with a very fouled up ratchet pawl. I'm almost convinced this is the wrong ratchet part that someone tried to make work. Does anybody have a picture of an original?

Thanks! Cliff

You are right. There are two kinds of ratchets on the Gem. Yours looks like it was the type that used a coiled flat spring which has broken and the previous repair person tried to make do with what was left.

I have repaired these with a piece of clock mainspring. You have to anneal it and reshape it and then heat it up again.
I wish I had a picture to share, but I don't.
Dave

I am sorry. I was going from memory and confused the ratchet spring with the belt tension spring.
Dave D

The issue with this configuration is that only one end of the pawl can engage the gear. I think the pawl is too small..?? or mounted too far away from the gear?

CDBPDX wrote:I'm working on an Edison Gem with a very fouled up ratchet pawl. I'm almost convinced this is the wrong ratchet part that someone tried to make work. Does anybody have a picture of an original?

Thanks! Cliff

Seems like this setup sort of defeats the purpose of having 2 locking feet on the pawl. With the spring, only one side of the pawl will ever engage. Is this right?