The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Want to buy a Columbia winding key. I know I can buy a reproduction from ebay and other places but I want a beaten, rusty, worn key you know the one that gets thrown in the parts bin because it's too ugly to use but you don't want to toss it because someone might need it. Bought a Frankenphono on my trip to Tombstone and want to put a winding ket instead of the crank. If anyone has such a piece please let me know. Thanks.

It would help a lot if you mentioned what model Columbia you want the key for. Also, do you want the cast, fancy key, or the plain flat one?

It doesn't matter since I'm going to make a adapter to use it on the Frankenphono. I just want a well used and worn key that I can adapt to this project. Thanks.

Here is a picture of the Frankenphono. It has a Columbia two spring motor, Exhibition Reproducer, and the rest is from a Jack and Jill toy phonograph. The crank it came with is super long so I thought if could adapt a Columbia ket it would look better.

I think he wants a shorter "crank", not a "key"? If not, the only Columbia machines that used a "key" are the Q and B. I wouldn't waste an original on that project. Just buy the repo and "age" it with liquid cold gun bluing.

CAN YOU POST A PICTURE OF WHAT THE CRANK LOOKS LIKE THAT CAME WITH IT??
NEED TO KNOW WHAT THE END LOOKS LIKE AND ALSO A COUPLE MEASUREMENTS WOULDNT HURT EITHER.

BLIZZ

Good idea!!! Thanks for the suggestion I'll buy it and I and age it like that. Thanks.

If you truly want a "key", I think you'll be disappointed when you try to wind a Columbia 2 spring motor with it. Expect blisters. Maybe you just want it for looks alone?

That's a neat little machine, by the way.

Thanks Curt and Blizz for your help.

Yes Jerry it's for looks and to show the workings of a phonograph. The side drops and you can see the motor and all it's gears turning while it's still playing a record. They had it as the display in Tombstone with a Little Wonder record album. The top opens without having to remove the crank. It plays really good. But maybe you are right and I should just modify the original crank so it fits better.