The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Hello. I'm looking for a replacement knob for a Columbia portable model 161 winding crank. Anyone know a source, or has anyone made one up him/herself? I'm unclear as to how the knob is fastened to the crank. Is there a force-fit rivet on the end, or something inside the knob? Does the hole go all the way through? I've attached a picture of what I'm trying to describe. Are the Columbia portable cranks of this period interchangeable? Anybody want to cannibalize a machine for me? (just kidding )
Thanks!
Bob

The knobs are all bakelite afaik, and are held on by a spreader ring that expands into a corrosponding slot within the bakelite knob. You should be able to unscrew the first section of the crank & exchange it with another provided the length of that section is the same.
An ad in the yankee trader section should find you one.

Thanks, Shane, for the helpful info and picture. I'll post a WTB in the trader section. Have a good day!
Bob

The Wiki has an interesting article on bakelite at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bakelite. What I hadn't realized was how early it was introduced: 1907-09! In fact, as I write this, my Telechron 1H1308 office wall clock (vintage 1950), with its bakelite case, is hanging before me on the wall. Telechron (GE) made many, many electric clocks with cases formed in various plastics, including bakelite---an application not mentioned in the Wiki article.

Henry wrote:The Wiki has an interesting article on bakelite at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bakelite. What I hadn't realized was how early it was introduced: 1907-09! In fact, as I write this, my Telechron 1H1308 office wall clock (vintage 1950), with its bakelite case, is hanging before me on the wall. Telechron (GE) made many, many electric clocks with cases formed in various plastics, including bakelite---an application not mentioned in the Wiki article.

Don't forget that Condensite (pretty much the same as Bakelite) was used for the Diamond Discs....

I should have mentioned that my c. 1950 Telechron 1H1308 is keeping perfect time, although it is on its third rotor/coil set---but that's another story!

My Columbia model 161 Viva-tonal portable -- which cost me the grand sum of $3 around 1968 -- is equipped with a wooden knob. I have no reason to believe that it is not original to the machine, which was in excellent condition when I bought it.