The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

A friend bought this large and heavy motor at yesterday's CLPGS Phonofair. Can anyone identify it?

The brake/speed control looks like the type Columbia used on its machines.

In fact, the more I look at the overall motor, the more I think is is a Columbia product. The winding mechanism (ratchet wheel and click, etc) looks like a Columbia, as do the gears and their arrangement. I think this is a Columbia motor.

For a Columbia BD or AR I believe.

The turntable spindle appears to be modified however.

Thank you gentlemen.
Perhaps the spindle was threaded to enable a record clamp to be fitted, possibly so that the machine could be used as a recorder.

I followed through on JerryVan's suggested models and he is exactly right. Both Columbia models used the same motor. Here is a link to one (an AR) that sold. There is a photo of the motor.

https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/ ... 1808443051

Yes, it's a Columbia used in the AR and BD Majestic. My BD is identical. In fact I nearly bought that motor as a spare. If I wasn't moving house at the moment your friend might not have got this!

It's one of the smoothest, most powerful and quietest motors ever made. I must say i find other collectors' seeming lack of interest in Columbia disc machines very surprising. They made machines the equal of Victor / HMV and some like the AR / BD were arguably superior. I know UK machines from the 20s suffer from pot metal rot and fatigue which is a real pity but earlier machines are not problematic.

Priced at £25, the stallholder let my friend have it for £10! Apparently trade at Powick was fairly quiet this year.