The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I just received a Columbia Type A cylinder phonograph I bought on EBay a couple of weeks ago. The cylinder will play fine to the end but not from the very beginning. If I drop down the reproducer at the very beginning of the record, it just sits there skipping on the record, and the carriage does not seem to move unless I start the cylinder from aprox. ¾ of an inch in from the beginning of the record. Is there some kind of adjustment that I am missing here? As I said, the record will play completely to the end on a single winding, but I have to start it about ¾ past the beginning of the record. Thank you in advance for any suggestions on this. Brian Keith

Brian,
It could be a number of problems. Does the carriage move freely fro end to end? If so, then the problem might be with the half nut and feed screw.In the Compleate Talking machine by Eric Reiss, He discusses the problems with Model A Graphophones.
Harvey Kravitz

Yes Harvey, (and thanks) the carriage slides freely from end to end. No pitting or oxidation on the shaft or the carriage. But it does not feel like the carriage is engaging the feed screw at the very beginning of the record - but if I move the carriage aprox. ¾ to an inch to the right then the carriage will start moving along the feed screw properly until the record is finished. And at that point the record plays very well, loud and clear, to the end, no binding, stopping, or skipping, etc.... Brian Keith

Take the feedscrew shaft out and make sure there isn't any damage to the threads on the end of the feedscrew or the halfnut.
Also make sure the halfnut is free and not gummed up with dry grease.


Chuck