Columbia grafonola

[darkwaterdevil]

what do you think of this. got it for free off of craigslist. any info on it?

[Lucius1958]

You've got a Model 50 there (introduced 1915)...

Does it have a motor? I don't see a spindle...

Bill

[darkwaterdevil]

You've got a Model 50 there (introduced 1915)...

Does it have a motor? I don't see a spindle...

Bill

yes it does. the had the spring redone in the motor and just didnt put the motor back in. i put it in and the spring just poped right off the case when i started to wind it. any idea on the value? the finish is perfect. just the normal shrinking of the shellac.

are you sure its a 50??? the pictures of the 50s that i see have 3 needle cups mine has 4 and those have a spot for the tone arm to sit when not being played and mine doesnt

[darkwaterdevil]

i think its a favorite

[estott]

I think it's a 50, though Columbia would make lots of small modifications to machines without changing the model number. The Favorite's I've seen have the older type of on-off lever and speed control, and the tone arm is on a separate mount, and the motor is screwed to the underside of the deck. This has the later drop in motor with the tone arm attached.

[darkwaterdevil]

all of the screw holes the the spring barrels are striped out and some of the tiny screws are missing

[estott]

all of the screw holes the the spring barrels are striped out and some of the tiny screws are missing

You may need a new spring barrel- should be an easy fix as Columbia machines sold in huge numbers. Contact George Vollema - [email protected]. He'll probably have a replacement tone arm as well.

[darkwaterdevil]

Should the spring be locked on the center bushing or does it juse hook on it

[kirtley2012]

it just hooks on, then when wound the tension of the spring keeps it in place

[darkwaterdevil]

The first time I winded it after it was rebuilt it just popped off. Looks like one of the springs was backwards. Are all 3 supposed to face the same direction