Columbia Type Q

[Shane]

I ran across this neat Columbia Q today. I spent the evening doing a rough de-greasing and lubrication, and the thing takes off with plenty of power. I have noticed that the stylus echos a lot, despite the apparent lack of wear to the stylus. Is the stylus held in place by wax like the Edisons are? I'm wondering if it is possible to turn the stylus around.



Also, I found a part on the machine that I don't quite understand. It is a little ring with a pin sticking up on it. It seems to fit well around the shaft where the reproducer attaches, but it doesn't seem to really change anything. I've never worked on one of these before... any help would be appreciated!

[gramophoneshane]

It appears to be off the trunnion ball (Pt No.119), which is listed in the AT parts as the "trunnion ball & lifter".
I've never worked on one of these reproducers either but I'd imagine the stylus is held by shellac (not wax), but I'm sure how successful turning this type of stylus will be. Being a conical type stylus I doubt turning would help much.

[Edisone]

Yep, it's the lifter ... and yours is upside-down in the picture.

[JohnM]

It's likely that the echo is caused by the molded-celluloid record you are playing having shrunk slightly over the decades since it was new. The stylus is not riding properly in the groove anymore. This is characteristic of this type of record. Try a molded-wax cylinder instead. Also, be sure the molded-celluloid cylinder you are using is not a four-minute cylinder (those are marked '4-M' on the title end; two-minute cylinders are not marked to indicate duration).

[Brad]

Shane,

The echo may also be due to a repro that is not floating freely. The entire repro body should be able to easily float from side to side.

I can't recall directly, however, was there a version of the Q that was sold with the ICS language cylinders that had a different groove pitch?

[JohnM]

It was sold with Dr. Rosenthal Language Lessons, but I don't think it had a different groove pitch.

The fundamental construction of the reproducer connection of a Type Q is so loosey-goosey I don't think that there could be any inherent restraint of the reproducer's motion with it lowered!

[Brad]

The fundamental construction of the reproducer connection of a Type Q is so loosey-goosey I don't think that there could be any inherent restraint of the reproducer's motion with it lowered!

I agree with you John, however, in the picture it looks like there is twine wrapped around the repro where it enters the trunnion that could possibly restrict movement. Kind of a loosey-goosey-noosey . What appears to be twine may be part of the repro, I have a repro repro and don't have anything there.

[JohnM]

Oh yeah, didn't notice the twine. That's weird. The reproducer fastening screw seems to be there. Free the reproducers!

[Amberola 1-A]

Hi,

That ring you depicted should be with the "foot" facing inward when slid on the output tube and was originally soldered there. This works in conjunction with the lift lever on the trunnion and elevates the Reproducer from the record and locks it up.
One of the critical areas on these are the two guide rods that the trunnion slides on. They really have to be free of all rust and anything that would cause drag. I use either 0000 steel wool or scotchbrite to polish them. You can apply some silicon lubricant on the guides with a rag rather than oil as the oil attracts dust and will get gummy over time.
I posted a pic of my Q which is an earlier version, but the lift mechanism is basically the same.

Bill

How the lift works in position

[Shane]

Many thanks for all the info! There actually isn't any twine around the reproducer neck... its just the knurling on the metal there.

I have the ring in position now. As it is, nothing seems to lift or lock up the reproducer. Is this lifting action activated by the lever that lifts the half-nut up and down?