The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I would like to remove the mainspring from a Vic IV barrel but can not see how to open the barrel. Would appreciate some help. Pictures attached. Thanks.


***********************
Edit on Friday after Thanksgiving: I just noted that in the original post I called the barrel a Vic IV. It is not. It is a barrel from a VV-IV. Lest anyone think I robbed Peter to pay Paul, I did not. The VV-IV was and is a parts machine. Even though a Vic I is a more scare machine, I believe it is wrong to sacrifice a good working machine of lesser value to fix another of greater marketable value. Others of course are free to disagree.

You must kick the axis from the opposite side while holding the barrel by the borders, or by the cylinder. The axis inside the barrel is a thick spring arbor, and this will kick the lid out by the center, aided also by the spring. The kicks must be given with a soft mallet not to spoil the arbor end. It's better to give many small kicks than few strong kicks. Be patient and the lid eventually pops out.
Another yet softer way is to shake the barrel so the spring weight against the lid will do the work. This is the best way, you don't kick on anything. Just take the barrel in one hand, and shake it so your arm kicks against the edge of the table you're working on. Shake the barrel in the proper direction so the spring inside shakes against the lid. Be patient and eventually the lid will pop out and fall on the table.

Done. Two taps with a rubber mallet popped the lid. Inigo, your help was very much appreciated.

I learned this here, from another colleague. This forum and the wonderful people herein... You learn something new everyday!

this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHQp6MdRCl8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wba904WbNHs&t=59s He knows what to do

Cheryla: Thanks for the video. The mainspring has already been removed from the barrel when I viewed this video. I'm not so sure I like the fellow's technique although I can't fault it on any specifics. I prefer to use a pair of gloves and tease the mainspring out with my hands rather than have it jump out all at once.

Inigo: A successful heart transplant! The mainspring was removed from the VV-IV barrel on Wednesday and transferred to a Vic I barrel today (Friday). It's a messy job but someone's got to do it. I have not installed the barrel into the Vic I motor yet, but I'm optimistic that this recycled mainspring will catch on the inner hub. And I'm optimistic that the machine will run. Fingers crossed, as the old saying goes. (The Vic I barrel with mainspring inside is on the left in the picture below.)

Wish you good luck! I'm also overhauling a hmv double spring motor, no32, late style. It had a transplanted barrel (with springs inside) directly from a no 34 surplus motor. His original barrel was stored with one spring broken. Yesterday I opened it, transplanted a recycled spring proper size, leaving the other as it was good. I have the original barrel now with two springs, cleaned and greased, ready to install in the motor....
So we're both crossing the fingers

Hey! My repaired no32 motor works now silent and smooth.
Did you try your transplanted Victor I ?

Thanks to Marco; I believe he was who gave the trick to use Molykote grade mixed with ⅓ graphite powder. It works like a champ now!
I must two with this grease the big no34 quadruple spring motor, and do the same, extracting the surplus springs I have and selecting the four ones that look better, reinstall them and regrease them with this mixture.

Inigo: Just spotted your post of Dec 16. Yes, I reassembled the motor and put the Vic I back together. You can see pictures of it here: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=43024 It's one of the best preserved machines I've found.