The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

A local fisherman brought me his trolling box made from a Vitanola motor. Unfortunately, he tried to fix it himself and took the mainsprings out. I always make a note of which way they are wound in, but in this case, he did not do that, so I am puzzled. I don't want to do it backwards and bend the end of the new springs.

If the top spring barrel turns counter clockwise when it is wound, which way should the spring be wound into the barrel? Should the bottom barrel have the spring wound in the same direction as the top, or opposite? Ron Sitko told me years ago that if the springs are in the same barrel they are wound opposite each other. If they are in separate barrels they should be wound in the same direction. I appreciate any insight so I don't mess this up.
Thanks!
Dave D

It is easy to discover it yourself if you patiently analyze how the spring is wound up and in what direction the barrels move the motor; you always have two safe references: the winding crank turns clockwise, as does the turntable spindle. Starting from that you should be able to deduct the direction of the springs. The crank winds up the first spring, and it winds up the second spring; you must figure out how one spring wounds the other by examining the motor.