The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

The early Triumphs had a three-ball governor. The later ones had a four-ball governor; also a collar was added midway along the shaft and connected by a wire spring to the fixed end -- a sort of secondary holder plus shock absorber.

Are the later motors smoother in operation?

I have two early Triumph D(1)s fitted with the horizontal carriage and O reproducers. They both have the 3-weight governor and run fairly quietly. I have read and heard that the 4-weight set-up is supposed to be quieter and smoother. I would assume that they are. (I'd like to have an example with the 4-weight) But, I have seen where some people who have the 4-weight can't really tell the difference. Maybe it depends on the condition of the machine?

Thanks. Are all weights the same? Is a weight interchangeable between a three-ball and four-ball Triumph governor?

Will a Home or Standard weight fit a Fireside or Triumph?

Personally, my answer to all of those questions would be NO. Perhaps the governor weights from some Standards might fit some Firesides, just guessing. However, maybe someone who really knows for sure will chime in!

I've got a model A and a model B Triumph machine and except for the governor shaft itself, all the governor parts are the same as on the model A Gem and model A and B Standards and the model B Home machines I have. I even had a model A Fireside governor on my Triumph A for a while trying to get rid of a flutter problem. The flutter turned out to be form a weight being loose on the spring.

It was my impression years ago that governor weights were the same. But I have never measured and it is a long time since I compared.

The same or not, I would weigh each one before mixng weights from other governors.