The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I’m looking for the small spring that attaches to the ‘ratcheting’ lever on a Victor Orthophonic auto-stop mechanism. Thank you!

Would this be on something like the portable 2-55? I have one in storage that I use for parts, I can check and see if it has this spring if it'd be the same...

Not sure, but if it has the standard Ortho brake it will. Thanks for checking!

In case you don't find an original, you can use a click-clack ballpen spring, cutting it, stretching or adapting it to the right length and tension.

turns out the 2-55 has a different brake mechanism than the one you have pictured. There is a spring but it's not the same. Probably best to try Inigo's method. Sorry!

John,

Here are the specs for what Victor called the “latch trip spring” Part number 9417PF
If you search McMaster Carr or another spring supplier you may find one with these same specs.
The wire diameter, number or coils, mean coil diameter, and the sheer modulus of elasticity (11.1 X 10E6 psi for carbon steel) are all factors in spring design. I suspect a wide range of ½ long light springs will work in this application. For springs I can’t buy from a stock supplier I have a commercial spring winder that comes in handy.

Please share your results.

Mark

If you have not found one by next week, send me a PM. I may have a whole ortho brake somewhere. Im away for now though.

I've had great luck at Menards finding small springs like this. If you want original that is of no help.
Dave

MarkELynch wrote: Sun Jan 05, 2025 1:11 pm John,

Here are the specs for what Victor called the “latch trip spring” Part number 9417PF
If you search McMaster Carr or another spring supplier you may find one with these same specs.
The wire diameter, number or coils, mean coil diameter, and the sheer modulus of elasticity (11.1 X 10E6 psi for carbon steel) are all factors in spring design. I suspect a wide range of ½ long light springs will work in this application. For springs I can’t buy from a stock supplier I have a commercial spring winder that comes in handy.

Please share your results.

Mark

IMG_3811.jpeg

Thanks for the information! I have a jump ring maker that I use in my jewelry business that is the same as a spring winder, but I was hoping to simply source the spring from a parts machine. I recently found a Victrola 8-7 at a yard sale in Prescott, Arizona and that’s what I need the spring for. The reproducer is pot metal and crumbly and the back bracket had broken. As fate would have it, a non-working 4-20 magically appeared on Facebook Marketplace for free with a decent reproducer. I’m going down to Phoenix to pick it up tomorrow, will harvest the brake spring and reproducer from it, and I have a reproduction back bracket ordered from Brian that should be here in a day or two, so I’ll have the 8-7 singing again soon.

Received a message today from The Phonograph Shop stating that they are out of Orthophonic back brackets and expect more “soon”, and they refunded my money.