The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Hi all,

When I removed the screws and crank escutcheon from my 1917 Victrola the Sixteenth for cleaning and polishing, turning the screwdriver popped one side of the drive off a screw head. To remove the screw I had to grab the head / shaft with vice grips and turn.

I then replaced the screws with modern brass ones of (approximately) the same size. (I know, I know, but the brass screw heads are basically the same color as the escutcheon.)

The screws are coming loose now so I removed everything again to fill the holes with matchsticks and wood filler only to find an old matchstick poking into the inside of the cabinet. (Somebody already made this repair!)

Anyway, that is now complete and I need to replace everything but realize that neither the crank shaft nor the escutcheon fit snugly enough to ensure I can find the proper fit for a level crank that meets the motor straight. I can no longer rely on the screw holes because I removed them, and because of the prior repair, it’s unclear where the centers are.

Any tips on finding the proper placement of the escutcheon? Are there exact measurements someplace I can use?

Thanks,
Mark

Slip the crank bushing in place with no screws, then insert the crank. Let the crank determine the location of the bushing. The crank's location will probably have some play. Move it around until it sits level and central to the play. Once that's been established, mark the locations of the screw holes and go from there. An extra set of hands may be helpful. Someone to hold the crank in place, while you mark the hole locations.

By the way, it would be best to use wood glue to hold your toothpicks in the old holes. (Not wood filler)