The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I just wanted to ask if anyone knows where in the UK I can have a spring motor serviced? I've got a bad case of thumping springs in my HMV motor. The springs themselves are fine but obviously the original lubrication has hardened.

Years ago our 'soundgen' colleague did these works, and probably continues servicing gramophones. He has a shop in Bedford, and currently leads a Gramophone and record stall in Portobello road, under the Westway Flyover, on Saturdays, and other days in other places. Just pm him and ask. Of course, there are others, as Howard Hope, John Sleep 'The Gramophone man', Ken Priestley in Lancashire, and many others. Tell where you are and the British colleagues will tell you for sure. You're very fortunate there to have plenty of gramophone resources...

Thanks for the info. I am in the Wiltshire / Somerset area of the UK but am happy to post the motor to further afield in the UK if required. I also travel to Berkshire on a semi regular basis so I could take it anywhere in that vicinity as well.


Post updated to add in Berkshire reference.

Let's wait if any British member steps in with more knowledge than me. Meanwhile you could check the Links section of the forum. There may be addresses for gramophone repair services in the UK...

There's another option... You could ask the City of London Phonograph and Gramophone Society. It's a club of this hobby, founded in 1919. I'm a member, and last October we celebrated centenary. There are several local groups across all England, and they use to meet once a month, give interesting presentations and record auditions, show their machines, etc. Once a year there is an Annual General Meeting, and latest years it has been celebrated in Great Malvern, a beautiful town near Worcester. It is a whole weekend, the first one of October, and it is very funny and interesting. Membership is not expensive, and they publish an interesting magazine in full colour quarterly, which members receive at home. It's 60 pages in A5 format, full of interesting articles on the hobby (machines, records, artists, etc.). You may consider becoming a member. Our website is http://www.clpgs.org.uk and there you can also find help for technical problems as the one you're referring herein. I became a member in 2002 or so, and this year was my first time, both at England, and at the AGM of the society. It was lovely, and is magnific to join for an entire weekend with lots of people with the same hobby... Pay a visit to the website and join us!