Parts Resellers

[danohallaron]

A couple of weeks ago, I bought my 5th Triumph, a 2/4 B with the lever. It's really just my thing, though my collection is varied. But I enjoy refurbishing them, as they are beasts. Anyway, this one was purchased at an online auction with good pics of the outside, but none of the inside. I took a shot and it eventually turned out to be a great-looking and performing machine.

However, when I got home and got it running, there was an unpleasant sound from below. Please see pic for the welded gear, which not only sounded bad, but had destroyed the small gear it meshed with. For a couple of hours, I thought it might become a parts machine, a thought I hated to consider.

I know resellers get a bad rap sometimes, but I found a set with both gears online for $24. Though the large gear I received is less than perfect and could use a bit of filing on the edges, it saved my machine. I understand not breaking good historical machines. But if it is done respectfully (and with machines that are in a rough state already) I am thankful. If it gives new life to another machine that may have been otherwise lost, it's like an organ transplant. Sadly, they just don't make many of these parts anymore.