My Edison B80 tabletop disc phonograph
Posted: Wed Sep 27, 2023 11:39 am
Hi Everyone,
I'm going to report on the repair job I've done on a B80, sold to me by Ken ("Phono Phan") a few weeks ago for $60 plus $35 shipping (I figured I couldn't go wrong at that price).
When it arrived it would crank, but barely. The turntable would spin, but it came to a halt pretty quickly once the reproducer was lowered onto a record. So I removed the motor and decided to follow the advice of some on this Forum (via a different string): I spent several days flushing the spring barrel with WD-40 (used up a couple large cans). Didn't want to try to remove and clean the spring, nor send the motor off to a shop. After five days of flushing and draining (lots of graphite flakes came out, so I'm guessing the spring barrel had not been cleaned since ca. 1914) I then inserted most of a tube of SUPER LUBE (Synthetic Grease Dielectric PTFE Multi Purpose Lubricant 21030 3 oz.) as recommended by Brad Hurt the "Dyslexic Genius" on YouTube. End result? Works like a charm! No clunking, etc. -- the spring unwinds quietly and smoothly.
The machine came without a grill and I could not find an original for replacement, so I bought a 14" wide Columbia grill that doesn't look all that bad. I then bought some forest green cloth for the grill and the panels flanking the horn at the back of the cabinet. For the cabinet I used lots of Goop Off to clean off the century of dirt and then applied bees' wax. Not a bad result; I might work on a better result later.
The B-80 is so gosh-darned fun and it's a joy to own one. It's amazing how the power is transferred from the motor (bolted to the bottom of the cabinet) to the belt via a long gear. You'd think it would be so easy for that gear to get bent and distort the speed—and I have read that the B80 can produce a warble effect from various causes (bent gear; belt-related issues; etc.). But with mine, no problems!
I heartily recommend that others pick up surviving examples. Mine is serial no. 16667.
Mindy P.
I'm going to report on the repair job I've done on a B80, sold to me by Ken ("Phono Phan") a few weeks ago for $60 plus $35 shipping (I figured I couldn't go wrong at that price).
When it arrived it would crank, but barely. The turntable would spin, but it came to a halt pretty quickly once the reproducer was lowered onto a record. So I removed the motor and decided to follow the advice of some on this Forum (via a different string): I spent several days flushing the spring barrel with WD-40 (used up a couple large cans). Didn't want to try to remove and clean the spring, nor send the motor off to a shop. After five days of flushing and draining (lots of graphite flakes came out, so I'm guessing the spring barrel had not been cleaned since ca. 1914) I then inserted most of a tube of SUPER LUBE (Synthetic Grease Dielectric PTFE Multi Purpose Lubricant 21030 3 oz.) as recommended by Brad Hurt the "Dyslexic Genius" on YouTube. End result? Works like a charm! No clunking, etc. -- the spring unwinds quietly and smoothly.
The machine came without a grill and I could not find an original for replacement, so I bought a 14" wide Columbia grill that doesn't look all that bad. I then bought some forest green cloth for the grill and the panels flanking the horn at the back of the cabinet. For the cabinet I used lots of Goop Off to clean off the century of dirt and then applied bees' wax. Not a bad result; I might work on a better result later.
The B-80 is so gosh-darned fun and it's a joy to own one. It's amazing how the power is transferred from the motor (bolted to the bottom of the cabinet) to the belt via a long gear. You'd think it would be so easy for that gear to get bent and distort the speed—and I have read that the B80 can produce a warble effect from various causes (bent gear; belt-related issues; etc.). But with mine, no problems!
I heartily recommend that others pick up surviving examples. Mine is serial no. 16667.
Mindy P.
I will say this... that thing is HEAVY. It currently resides upstairs in my house and I can't muster up the courage to carry it down. It seems like the weight isn't evenly distributed, either... all towards the back.
