C-250 reproducer damaged

[scottmr]

I generally stink at keeping posts short, but here goes:

My boss has me charged with repairing a family heirloom C-250 that was damaged in moving. The connection between the needle and the diaphragm in the reproducer broke.

I also see a green-sheathed wire broken and hanging. It appears to go from a small plug in the reproducer to some small coils up in the center of the mechanism.

While I'm in there, I'd like to clean what needs to be cleaned. Lubricate what needs to be lubricated, etc.

Some questions:

1. Can you replace just the connection between diaphragm and needle, or must you replace the diaphragm, too?

2. Are there manuals available anywhere on how this goes together and works?

3. Is there guidance available on cleaning and lubricating?

4. Just out of curiosity, is it possible to overwind the crank, or is there some sort of protection in there?

Thanks,
Scott

[larryh]

Scott,

There is a manual which shows how to lubricate and adjust the motor in the Useful resources link. As to the diaphragm linkage.. If you had a new linkage for one you possibly could change it but it may be that you will have to come up with a different diaphragm. The machine you have evidently has part of he "Duncan Stop" which worked off of a battery which was stored in the back of the horn chamber, the gold wire ran to it and was activated when the needle reached the end of the grooves by the weight touching the outer limit pin support causing the connection to trip. There is probably some information on that on the site under Edison Disc Phonographs, or you might try to google it also.
You will definitely break the spring if wound too tightly.
If you look at the thread just below this one I made a description of how one can take apart the reproducer.

Larry