The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I have 2 Polly portables that I am restoring. Both of them will not play a record all the way through even on a very full wind-up. I tried to remove the spring on one of them and the end of the spring that attaches to the canister will not budge. I am wondering if when it was manufactured if they pressed the spring in place so it would not detach. Has anyone had any experience in replacing the spring on a Polly portable or the Brunswick Parisian?
Any help would really be appreciated. I talked to George Vollema and he said he can have them custom made.
Mike Henry

Hi, Mike. Can you show a photo of the end of the spring where it is attached so securely?

Sometimes, the end of the spring is secured to the spring barrel with a pin through a loop attached to the inside of the spring barrel and will not detach until that pin is pulled out. That is commonly used on Brunswick motors.

Cliff

Here is a picture of the spring still attached to the spring barrel. It is stuck.

Put a small portion of the spring back into the spring barrel, about ½ of a full loop. Grab hold of the spring and try to push it around inside the spring barrel while slightly twisting it back and forth. It can take a bit of effort, but it will eventually come out.

P.S. - Great picture! No pin...