The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I'm looking for a crank for my Columbia BV. It seems to be an odd size as I have several cranks but none fit quite right. It looks like it should be a fall-off design but a slotted one will work. I have been using a repro for an AG and although close in dimensions the drilled hole in the crank is too large. Any help would be appreciated. If you have a crank that you don't want to sell, I can sell you the machine! I'm attaching a picture of a BVT that I owned a few years ago and assume the BV looks similar. thanks, Joe

My BV has the typical fall off crank. The same as my BVT. The crank hole has an escutcheon like an Edison. This round escutcheon was used in both Columbia cylinder machines, and early disk ones. Did you machine come with this escutcheon? It could have been swapped or added on later. That explains why the fall off crank won't fit.
Harvey Kravitz

In recent history I had a BV with a very short but simple slotted crank. I think I was the first collector to get my hands on that little cutie and I think it was all original.

Jerry Blais

The shaft is right at ¼" in diameter. I need a crank with a hole about 9/32". The repro I have been using is about 5/16" but way to loose. See picture below, yes it does have a crank escutcheon similar to an Edison, Harvey.
thanks, Joe

Like Jerry, my BV has a small slotted crank - also the escutcheon on mine is a simple round press fit rather than the oblong with screws. It's pretty mint and seems to be all original, but after all these years who knows?

Here is the correct crank you need. It needs the wood knob, and Ron Sitko sells these. These cranks are tough to find loose. They were used on the top wind AJ, Early side wind AJ, early AK, late model A, early AT, AA, and of course the BV/BVT. A decent, complete crank will top $125.00 or more. Below is the ebay link. I don't know how to save these pictures.
Harvey Kravitz

https://www.ebay.com/itm/COLUMBIA-PHONO ... rk:12:pf:0