The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Hello to all!

So I have this Q that was recently refurbished. It looks nice but on a full wind it will only get thru ⅔ of a cylinder before slowing down. The leather belt is slack, not tight, but works otherwise. I am definitely winding it to the point where it will wind no more. I know it's a single spring motor but I figure it should at least play thru an entire cylinder

Refurbisher said it was the "original spring that was not cut down"...

Any suggestions where I should look?

Thanks!
Steve
New York

What are you using for a horn?

A small and very lightweight reproduction...I don't think I could find one lighter unless it was made of paper lol....

Without playing a record, if you let it wind down to a stop, how much remaining tension do you feel on the spring? If there is a bit more tension than you would expect under those circumstances, then most likely, there is some drag that's robbing power. (Try with & without the carriage lowered.) If the spring has gone nearly completely slack, then I'd say you have a weak spring.

Hello, I have the first version of the Columbia Q. Mine was the same way. It couldn't get through a cylinder record. It drove me crazy. What I did was place a drop of oil on the shaft where the mandrel rotates on the pully end. It worked and is now a great machine. Just giving you my experience.

Thanks! I'll give that a try!!!