The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Was given a machine to bring back from the dead and so close until I realized that the speed indicator nut was so stripped that it actually looks as though it was never threaded. Anybody have a source for one of those? I imagine I can't just hop down to my local Ace Hardware and pick up another. If anyone has a source, or size so I can search, or even an extra floating around in a bin please let me know! It'll be the only thing that I have to pay for on this machine so I don't mind. Turns out the "broken" spring was just a torn-out pear hole so I cut, re-anodized, and re-drilled the tip of the spring and it's now all good. Hoping to get this fixed up so I can get it into the hands of someone who will become smitten with these phonographs and start to seek out more.

Cheers!

The VV-XI was made for many years with a few different versions of the speed control. The most common is a small oval with a threaded thumb screw held to the motor board with two small screws. Does that sound correct?

Jerry B.

Sorry, it's this style indicator. And while the adjustment screw and the needle are okay, just looking for the teenie, tiny nut that
goes over the washer that fits over the needle indicator.

These queries always make me curious.

I’m researching your question in the Victor parts listings here is what I found. The nut thread diameter is listed in the table but unfortunately, in this case, not the thread size. The 3/32” major thread diameter would relate to a #2 but it doesn’t list the number of threads per inch, the National Fine and Coarse sizes are 64 and 48. There is also a National Special Thread size of 3/32”- 48 TPI. It is also possible that Victor chose a proprietary size since much of the hardware seems to have been made in house judging by the variety of screw machines they purchased. Some of the screw machine purchases are recorded in the engineering meeting notes.

Unfortunately I don’t have a loose indicator shaft to measure. Maybe others can take up this task with their thread gauges. One measurement will put this question to bed.

If you can’t find an original spare and it turns out to be a standard size you could check the McMaster Carr catalog. They list #2 nuts in both fine and coarse thread. The flat width is different but not a functional concern if you can match the threads.

Let us know what you learn.

Mark

PM sent

MarkELynch wrote: Mon May 15, 2023 1:36 pm It is also possible that Victor chose a proprietary size since much of the hardware seems to have been made in house judging by the variety of screw machines they purchased.

Mark

The term "screw machine" is a deceiving one. It is possible for an automatic screw machine to in fact produce screws. However, they were/are also used to produce any number of precision parts in very high volumes, that have nothing to do with fasteners. They were mechanical marvels that have been almost entirely replaced with CNC machinery.

From the web...

"An automatic screw machine is a specific type of lathe. Most automatic screw machines have several slides and spindles that all hold various types of tools (drills, form tools, milling cutters, taps, dies, etc.). This gives the machine the ability to machine very high volumes of turned components with minimal supervision and high precision."

My apologies if you already knew all of this.

Did you find one?
Dave D

Dave D wrote: Wed May 17, 2023 7:53 am Did you find one?
Dave D

Possibly, someone has an assembly that they may be sending me. Fingers crossed! It's an awful lot of trouble for a tiny little nut

Let me know if you still need one.
Dave D

All set! Thanks so much to Steve who sent me the whole assembly and for the best, looks as though my screw was a bit short and probably led to someone having trouble tightening the original nut thereby stripping it. All is great now. Thanks so much!