The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Why did Columbia use the fiber gear? Why wasn’t it just made out of brass like all the rest in the motor?

The teeth on mine broke really easily! (I need to get a new gear)


David

Fiber gears tended to be quieter.

- Bill

Ron Sitko may have a replacement...

dzavracky wrote:Why did Columbia use the fiber gear? Why wasn’t it just made out of brass like all the rest in the motor?

The teeth on mine broke really easily! (I need to get a new gear)


David

Probably the same fool that Thought pot metal was a good idea...

BTW did people know 100 years ago how problematic pot metal became as it aged?

AmberolaAndy wrote:

dzavracky wrote:Why did Columbia use the fiber gear? Why wasn’t it just made out of brass like all the rest in the motor?

The teeth on mine broke really easily! (I need to get a new gear)


David

BTW did people know 100 years ago how problematic pot metal became as it aged?

Probably not, until it actually aged... Don't be too hard on those folks. Those pot metal parts did their jobs for as long as anyone could expect anything to last. I'm certain that, as today, they didn't consider a bunch of collectors, 100 years in the future, who might be inconvenienced by their choice of pot metal. It seems that when it became apparent that the addition of lead to the mixture was a problem, it was eliminated from the recipe.

Curt A wrote:Ron Sitko may have a replacement...

I am going to order one from him soon... Does the brass gear come apart to allow me to take the old fiber gear out and put the new gear in? Or am I buying the whole spindle shaft gear?

David

dzavracky wrote:

Curt A wrote:Ron Sitko may have a replacement...

I am going to order one from him soon... Does the brass gear come apart to allow me to take the old fiber gear out and put the new gear in? Or am I buying the whole spindle shaft gear?

David

The fiber gear just presses off of the brass gear. No need to take anything else apart.

JerryVan wrote:

dzavracky wrote:

Curt A wrote:Ron Sitko may have a replacement...

I am going to order one from him soon... Does the brass gear come apart to allow me to take the old fiber gear out and put the new gear in? Or am I buying the whole spindle shaft gear?

David

The fiber gear just presses off of the brass gear. No need to take anything else apart.

Okay great! Thanks Jerry.


David

JerryVan wrote:

AmberolaAndy wrote:

dzavracky wrote:Why did Columbia use the fiber gear? Why wasn’t it just made out of brass like all the rest in the motor?

The teeth on mine broke really easily! (I need to get a new gear)


David

BTW did people know 100 years ago how problematic pot metal became as it aged?

Probably not, until it actually aged... Don't be too hard on those folks. Those pot metal parts did their jobs for as long as anyone could expect anything to last. I'm certain that, as today, they didn't consider a bunch of collectors, 100 years in the future, who might be inconvenienced by their choice of pot metal. It seems that when it became apparent that the addition of lead to the mixture was a problem, it was eliminated from the recipe.

Sadly i also have an Akai M8 tape deck from the 1960s that has the head adjustment cam that also became a victim of bad pot metal. You'd think by 1965 they would know better.