The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

First of all I want to apologize for asking questions on fixing things in the machine part of the forum. I saw this section after the last question I asked. So thanks for not razzing me for asking in the wrong section.

So I have 2 triumphs and they both do that "thump" thing and I read it is because the barrel springs probably need cleaned out. I've also read it's very intimidating. So I was curious if there is a way to take the barrel apart but leave the springs in and clean them that way then re-grease them without taking the springs out? Or do the springs come out when you take the barrel apart no matter what? I just did the spring in a standard but understand that it's pretty much nothing like that at all. Thanks -- Joel

Yes, Triumph mainsprings are larger and more powerful than that of a Standard...and there are THREE of them. But if you have only reasonably strong hands, and use some care, they're certainly doable. When I acquired one of my Triumphs, the mainsprings really thumped badly. I tried adding various things to the spring barrels in an attempt to break down the hardened grease, but after two or three months of that, I decided I'd need to clean and re-grease the mainsprings. That was my first Triumph mainspring job, and I felt much like you do. It wasn't as bad as I'd been led to believe. The real pain came once I had reassembled those three mainsprings - only to discover that one had become disconnected! I pulled them apart, and naturally, it had to be the MIDDLE one! I crimped the inner end slightly, and it seemed alright...until after reassembling it happened again! For a THIRD time the mainsprings were disassembled and the damned middle mainspring was crimped again and everything reassembled. Finally - all was well. That was 25 years ago and that Triumph has run fine ever since.

Don't be intimidated. It's just like your Standard, only stronger and multiplied by three. Just be sure that middle mainspring is properly crimped around the arbor! Good luck - -

George P.