The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Working on a Columbia motor which seems to fit the mystery cabinet I asked about several days ago. Everything lines up with the case I have. Have several questions concerning the motor which has a switch which is under the turntable which has an "IN" or "OUT" option. In adfdition the Start/Stop lever on top seems to be missing an integral part - can anyone shed some light on this? The speed control works. TIA

If I remember correctly from the Columbia machine I used to have, it's to turn the Automatic brake on or off.

Thanks - I have another Columbia motor for parts but unfortunately it does not have this option. Hoping someone can come up with what is missing on the start/stop lever. Cheers

The in and out lever causes the machine to cut off after a predetermined time. When it is "in", a gear rotates and moves another a tooth each revolution. When enough turns have been made, it throws the brake on the machine. On mine, it really had nothing to do with the length of the record; it could stop during a recording or quite some time after so I leave it off or "out" so that I can cut off the machine whenever I wish to do so. Hope this helps!
John P.

I don't think that motor is correct for the machine- the ones with the plates like that are much later and Columbia didn't use them on the client machines. I think yours would have been more like this one:

Thanks for all the info. Yep I was aware the motor I have not correct but it fit so nice
Oh well, guess I'm desperate for a summere project.........love that photo Estott

The photo was lifted off the internet, but most all of Columbia's client machines were the same- just little details like the grille changed.

Iwent back out to the shed and came up with a earlier motor which has no plate and has an
identical knob protruding from under the platter like the one shown in the picture. Perhaps this project is not done yet. The case has a hole in the top for the knob shaft. Getting closer.....thanks again and cheers

I agree with estott, your machine should have a motor similar to the Harmony or Symphony machines. Here are pictures of my United Symphony and its motor. Hope that helps.
Good luck
Andreas

Thanks alang. Beautiful machine. After all the input I guess the prudent course of action is to abandon this project. Cheers