The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I'm a tinkerer. I currently own a pretty cherry Columbia 711 (that baby is louder that all heckfire). I've been trolling Craigslist locally for 78s on sale, and I came across a woman selling a non-functioning phonograph plus a stack of 12" classical Wagner 78s all for $35. The stack of records alone were well worth the 20 mile drive to check them out....and I also ended up coming home with what appears to be a National Phonograph cabinet/motor/turntable/tonearm with a Victrola Exhibition reproducer.

First of all, I'm no expert by any stretch, but I've never seen anything made by the National Phonograph Company that had anything other than an "Edison" label on it. This label clearly says "National Phonograph Company" and makes no mention of Edison. I was wondering if anyone could help me identify what I got my hands on.

Next, I've not come across any motors in the short time I've been researching phonographs that had the governer contained inside of any kind of housing. The owner told me that the phonograph worked when she bought it at a yard sale about 12 years ago, and that the crank just "went limp" after a few years. After I got it home and inspected things a bit, the crank appeared to be in perfect working order. I think I've got a pretty clear detached and/or broken spring on my hands. So...anybody have any pointers on what type of motor I have on my hands? I think I can proooooobably handle the motor once I get inside of it, but I'm always happy to hear some suggestions ahead of time if there's advice to be offered.

Last, what kind of reproducer do I need to start looking for for this Phrankenstein Phonograph? I'll post some pictures below shortly.

Front of the cabinet.

I have the turntable platter...but it's yanked currently. Here's the inside view>

Looking straight down at the motor.

View from the crank shaft side.

Opposite side of the crank shaft.

View from the underside. The housing is stamped with:

PHONOGRAPH MOTOR
MADE BY
UNITED MFG & DISTRIBUTING CO.
CHICAGO, IL USA
PATS PENDING MODEL 7

No, that is not an Edison, and that was a different National company. Interesting motor though. There must have been hundreds of obscure little companies banging together cabinets and motors. You could attach any kind of generic reproducer that fits the tonearm properly and I doubt anyone will ever notice the difference, but if they do, it will be someone on this board.

I have a catalog around here for I think it is United, they made motors similar to Heinemann, and this one looks like the one they advertised a enclosed self lubricating. I guess it was packed with grease or oil. Anyways, they also made some mica reproducers and orthphonic style reproducers. The arm in your photo looks alot like what was in the catalog. The company also sold plans to make cabinets and suitcases to make portables. Seems like that was the business to be in back in the late teens and 20's.