The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Columbia cylinder machine owners (BE, BF, or BG):

I purchased a nice BG recently and the carriage didn't track. Tore it down to discover a lot of 100 year-old grease and gunk which I cleaned up but also noticed that the first drive gear which is on the mandrel shaft spins freely. Tightening the pully hold-down nut only prevents the mandrel from turning freely. This is the smallest gear in the photo on the left.

Has anyone encountered this issue and what is a good "fix"? Soldering the gear onto the shaft is not an option as that would prevent removal of the mandrel.

Thanks in advance!

Terry Baer
St. Louis
314.495.9027

Two things to look for:

Do you have the small brass washer that fits in between the small gear and the pulley installed?

Sometimes the small gear needs to be reversed when put on the shaft.

Chuck

Wow, Chuck, that was it. I reversed the gear and it now allows me to tighten down the pulley retaining nut to lock it in without freezing up the mandrel. The small gear has an almost-indiscernible hub on one side which must be the difference.

Thank you for your valuable input!


Terry

Terry,

Found out about that gear the hard way.

Glad it worked out for you.

Chuck