The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I had just finished playing "Oh Mabel" by the Golden Gate Orchestra when I decided to play the flip side. I began to wind the spring when suddenly I heard and felt a large bang. It was clear that the spring on my A250 had finally had enough. Considering how old it was and how well it worked, I can hardly complain about the break. I would like to service the motor myself. I have experience servicing the Victrola IX motor in my collection, but I have never touched my A250 Edison motor. Where can I find replacement springs? If anyone can point me towards the right instructions for the A250 motor service I would be most grateful. Here are pictures of the motor I need to repair.

Ron Sitko has your replacement springs.
Instructions to service an Edison Disc motor can be found here http://forum.talkingmachine.info/viewto ... f=4&t=1133. Since these springs are quite large and strong you may want to think about replacing both springs and be done forever, since you have to take everything apart anyway. Just a thought.

Good luck!
Andreas

Replacing a spring on a typical Victrola is great but a Diamond Disc spring is truly formidable. You might want to send the spring barrels to Ron. Just a suggestion...

Jerry B.

Jerry's suggestion to have Ron help you is a good one.

I would send the motor out for repair, and would get all the springs replaced at once. I've replaced Edison springs once; I won't do it again. It's actually dangerous work.

Garret

It is not that bad to do a spring. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQArJEraIpw Look at all of this

I can't (yet) figure out how to separate the two barrels. The shaft came out easily. On both sides are gears which have two screws, but taking out those screws does nothing. I might have to wait for help to get them apart. I'm making a video to post on You Tube so that it's easy for the next forum member. I can't find any videos for the A250 motor currently.

I contacted Roger Merenkov who came to my rescue. He showed me how to separate the barrels and he exposed the broken spring. He said that the spring can and should be repaired rather than replaced. I'm going to clean it up with mineral spirits and wait for a hole in Rogers schedule. It looks like a tough repair to make so I want to watch him do it. The break occurred close to the end which means there is a lot of spring to work with. Here is a picture of the broken end.

You may want to touch base with Wyatt Markus as well... Packing springs and selling them is his specialty...lol...

Drop him a text at 585-224-5453 (always good to send a pic of what you need repaired), or find him on Facebook!

He is under the handle "MicaMonster" here on the TMF if you want to PM him...

Here is his website:

http://edisondiamonddisc.com/



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Tony K.

Edison Collector/Restorer