18 I have just found this wonderful windup phonograph. How can I tell if it works? I don't have time to read a book. What can I do?
Description
This article is from the Antique Radios And Phonographs FAQ, by Hank van Cleef vancleef@netcom with numerous contributions by others.
18 I have just found this wonderful windup phonograph. How can I tell if it works? I don't have time to read a book. What can I do?
Phonographs are found which look new. Others look as if
they have been sitting in a wet basement for 70 years. But there are
a few quick tests:
1. Does the dealer demonstrate the unit? If it plays and sounds
fine, it probably is in good shape. It is relatively hard to hide
problems with spring motors.
2. Is the spring broken? This means that your turn the crank and
nothing happens. Usually the spring is broken near the center, so the
phonograph does not play. New springs can be found for most
phonographs from the Antique Phonograph Supply Company. Cost: about
$50 if you send in the barrel. If a new spring is not
available, you can patch the old one by following instructions in
the Reiss book listed above. But please note that you may not
want to do this without some experience since you can cut your
fingers off.
3. If the turntable rotates (or the cylinder turns), but you hear
a loud bump while the record is playing, then the spring needs grease.
a. This is not an easy task. Purists will say to take the spring out
of the barrel, clean it and the reload the barrel. Warning: if you try
to do this, you can cut your fingers off. The barrel is a cylinder into
which the spring is wound. Some cheaper units simply have an open
spring. Greasing such a spring is much more easy.
b. Shortcut: You can add grease to the spring without first taking
it out of the barrel. Most barrels had an opening called a graphite
hole. Wind up the unit all the way. Take the plug out of the graphite
hole and force in grease. The original Edison formula, which I have
used, contains 10 parts vasoline to 1 part graphite. Put the screw
back in the hole. Let the unit run down, dispersing the grease.
4. Listen to see if the governor is in good shape. When you play the
unit, is there a high speed vibration. If so, you may need work on the
governor. This is difficult.
5. If the turntable works (or the cylinder turns), then play a
record. What does it sound like? If you hear a lot of vibrations,
or if the sound is bad, you probably need to rebuild the reproducer.
a. Rebuilding an Edison reproducer for a cylinder phonograph is
ususally an easy job. Kits cost $6.00. A new sapphire is $30.00
and is likely to outlast you.
b. Rebuilding a Victor #2 (the most common) is not difficult either.
c. Rebuilding a Diamond Disc reproducer is more difficult. The old
diaphragms take effort to remove without damage. It can be done. Kits
are available. New diamond needles: $60.00. But the old diamond may be
in good shape.
d. Rebuilding the Victor Orthophonic is very difficult and few people
will touch this one. Such reproducers (heads) cost about $100 in
auctions. Many were made of pot metal, and they are gradually falling
apart.
e. Rebuilding other heads requires buying generic parts and doing
the best you can.
6. Ok, I don't know much about mechanical things. What can I do?
You can send the entire works off for repair and cleaning. This costs
about $150 for an Edison unit.
7. What about parts? What if something wears out?
If you buy an Edison or a Victor, most motor parts are still
available. As for the other units around, if something other than
the spring is broken, you might want to look for a different unit
unless you are handy around a machine shop, or are willing to pay to
send the entire motor out for repair.
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