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Okay, as I began tinkering with the Victor III, which has double springs in separate barrels, I saw that there was something wrong with the machine. Very, very wrong.

1. How do I get into the spring barrels?

2. That pin that crosses over and gives the winding gear and ratchet gear something to stick to--it's too short to engage. Perhaps the ends were torn off. Can this be replaced, with what kind of steel stock?

3. How does the winding ratchet work? I don't know if mine is all there any more, as there's just a rather bedraggled spring wrapped around and two loose, floppy ratchet pawls.

Likely the motor burst itself through a spring slipping or breaking years ago, and the machine was stored in the case--this would account for the presence of the case and for the lovely condition. But there's a busted mainspring in the drive-gear side, the damaged winding ratchet, and the stress cracks in the end of the slotted crank. Betcha someone had to change their knickerbockers when that one went off!

Sorry for the terminology questions; I'm not real sure what these old parts are called.

Have you got any pictures?

Unfortunately I haven't yet. If I could get into the barrel that'd be good for a start. I'm missing the motor diagram from the interior, and am not sure what it should look like.

Here is a picture of the motor diagram in my Vic III. Hope this helps. I can also take a picture of any motor part that you need. Just let me know.

Some pictures of the motor.

Thanks for the pictures. My motor was in pretty much that shape. I didn't see the wire spring to work the ratchet adn I'm not sure how to open the barrel. The earliest Vic motor I ever fixed was a 1912 and I was simply maintaining the motor, not greasing the springs. This thing is bizarre.

A suggestion is to call Ron Sitko this evening. He might be able to help. His contact information is in the Links Section.
I also have a Victor III and hope yours gets up and running as it should.

Thanks guys.

Today after work I took a punch and punched out the pin. Yep, spring was broken. I'll be blacksmithing the inner coil back to shape and if that doesn't work, I'm off to my enablers for some new main springs.

The motor should run okay soon.

Update:

Which way are the springs supposed to coil on these machines? I cranked 'er up and the springs unhooked.

Also, does the click for the winding ratchet have a spring of some kind to power it, or is it like a Victrola motor where the rotation operates the click?

The winding gear usuall has a slot, and the shaft has a pin through the winding shaft.
These pins break and they are usually tapered, if their is anyway of measuring what is left and see what the measurments are, you need another tapered pin to replace the one that broke. Many early Victor motors have this arrangement. Ron Sitko probably has them, it is a common Victor III problem.