The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

The bullet brake on one of my machines seems to be out of whack. As you can see in the first picture, when in the "on" (or disengaged) position, the lever actually rests atop one of the screws, which in turn makes the lever action pretty wobbly when it's not locked into the "on" position. I can tell that its arc used to be different based on the wear pattern on the plate underneath (second picture), but when I remove the bullet and lever and look underneath (third picture), I can't figure out any way to adjust it. I can also compare it to the bullet brake on another one of my machines (fourth and fifth pictures), which works perfectly and with no wobble. As you can see, the lever on brake B doesn't rest atop either of the screws in either position -- hence no wobble, as it is always flat. What am I missing here? Can anyone advise me on how to fix (or reset, or whatever) the brake in the first three pictures? (Apologies for the orientation of the last few pictures, btw -- I can't figure out how to rotate them. If anyone knows how to do that, please let me know; if you click on them, they do display properly.) Thanks in advance!

The arm is bent, as if someone forced it over too far. If you compare the 2 arms you've photographed, the troublesome one is a bit buckled in the "crotch" and much more closed up, compared the good example. See how the bent one forms a "V", while the other forms more of an "L"?

Ah, thanks. I think I see what you mean. Should I just try to bend it back in the other direction? If so, any tips for doing so? I don't want to make it worse, or weaken or even break it...

Zenger wrote: Sat Feb 13, 2021 7:34 pm Ah, thanks. I think I see what you mean. Should I just try to bend it back in the other direction? If so, any tips for doing so? I don't want to make it worse, or weaken or even break it...

There is the risk of breaking it... Hard to say what exactly to do. Since the bend also has made it buckle a bit, you could try squeezing the buckled area in a very good vise, with very smooth jaws, hoping that flattening the buckle will also help to move the arm back, closer to where it belongs.

Zenger wrote: Sat Feb 13, 2021 7:34 pm Ah, thanks. I think I see what you mean. Should I just try to bend it back in the other direction? If so, any tips for doing so? I don't want to make it worse, or weaken or even break it...

I would try to GENTLY work the "kink" out of the bend with a ball peen hammer. Put a few layers of painter's tape on the outside, lay it on an anvil, and smack the high part on the underside of the bend until it's flat. This should restore the original angle of the arm.

It should be obvious, but just in case... Use the flat end of the ball peen hammer, not the round end...