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Victrola Spring Barrel Repair?
Posted: Tue Mar 16, 2021 4:11 am
by Jwb88
Has anyone else come across this? It looks like the large gear with spring shaft has been fixed at two points to the double-spring barrel. The spring that would run this side is broken, so is this an old “repair” to effectively make it function as a single-spring motor? Thoughts?
Re: Victrola Spring Barrel Repair?
Posted: Tue Mar 16, 2021 5:01 am
by soundgen
Jwb88 wrote: Tue Mar 16, 2021 4:11 am
Has anyone else come across this? It looks like the large gear with spring shaft has been fixed at two points to the double-spring barrel. The spring that would run this side is broken, so is this an old “repair” to effectively make it function as a single-spring motor? Thoughts?
Yes , exactly that !
Re: Victrola Spring Barrel Repair?
Posted: Tue Mar 16, 2021 1:05 pm
by Curt A
Typical red neck "repair"...

Re: Victrola Spring Barrel Repair?
Posted: Tue Mar 16, 2021 1:39 pm
by JerryVan
Depression Era necessity?
Re: Victrola Spring Barrel Repair?
Posted: Tue Mar 16, 2021 10:34 pm
by Frisco The Beagle
Re: Victrola Spring Barrel Repair?
Posted: Thu Mar 18, 2021 9:01 am
by Curt A
Re: Victrola Spring Barrel Repair?
Posted: Thu Apr 01, 2021 10:21 am
by poodling around
Jwb88 wrote: Tue Mar 16, 2021 4:11 am
Has anyone else come across this? It looks like the large gear with spring shaft has been fixed at two points to the double-spring barrel. The spring that would run this side is broken, so is this an old “repair” to effectively make it function as a single-spring motor? Thoughts?
I can't quite figure out what was used to fix the large gear to the double spring barrel.
Could you please just confirm what was actually done ?
Re: Victrola Spring Barrel Repair?
Posted: Thu Apr 01, 2021 12:47 pm
by Inigo
It's clear from the photos. They installed the big gear at the closed side of the barrel (these are reversible) and soldered the gear to the barrel neck at the centre, two opposite welded points. You can see the solder from outside, although I suppose most of it is actually under the gear centre. This way, the gear moves solidary to the barrel, so only the outer spring is needed to move the motor, as the spring moves the barrel and this moves the solidary large gear, without need to have the bottom spring to do that. In fact, to restore the motor, you'll have to desolder and free the large gear from the barrel, and install the first (bottom) spring again.
Re: Victrola Spring Barrel Repair?
Posted: Thu Apr 01, 2021 2:05 pm
by poodling around
Inigo wrote: Thu Apr 01, 2021 12:47 pm
It's clear from the photos. They installed the big gear at the closed side of the barrel (these are reversible) and soldered the gear to the barrel neck at the centre, two opposite welded points. You can see the solder from outside, although I suppose most of it is actually under the gear centre. This way, the gear moves solidary to the barrel, so only the outer spring is needed to move the motor, as the spring moves the barrel and this moves the solidary large gear, without need to have the bottom spring to do that. In fact, to restore the motor, you'll have to desolder and free the large gear from the barrel, and install the first (bottom) spring again.
I see. Great information and really appreciated Inigo.
I am going to try to repair a spring in my Garrard 1a motor tomorrow and it made me think about this thread.
Re: Victrola Spring Barrel Repair?
Posted: Thu Apr 01, 2021 4:21 pm
by soundgen
poodling around wrote: Thu Apr 01, 2021 2:05 pm
Inigo wrote: Thu Apr 01, 2021 12:47 pm
It's clear from the photos. They installed the big gear at the closed side of the barrel (these are reversible) and soldered the gear to the barrel neck at the centre, two opposite welded points. You can see the solder from outside, although I suppose most of it is actually under the gear centre. This way, the gear moves solidary to the barrel, so only the outer spring is needed to move the motor, as the spring moves the barrel and this moves the solidary large gear, without need to have the bottom spring to do that. In fact, to restore the motor, you'll have to desolder and free the large gear from the barrel, and install the first (bottom) spring again.
I see. Great information and really appreciated Inigo.
I am going to try to repair a spring in my Garrard 1a motor tomorrow and it made me think about this thread.
Best of luck repairing a spring ! Much easier to replace with a new one !
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/133678513658