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Post by need4art on Jan 23, 2009 18:36:42 GMT -5
Hi All, Kevin I was trying to get so info on your strobe item so that I can either order 1 or find it on e-bay. Could you help me out? Thx Abe
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Post by bostonmike1 on Jan 23, 2009 19:30:54 GMT -5
dean----- your broken screw will be a problem for you to remove. i am a foreman in a tool and die shop here in N.Y.C. and if you are unable to rectify this situation on your own, send it to me and i will remove it either at home in my shop or at work . NO CHARGE. you may do more damage if it is not done correctly! i have been monitoring your problem since you posted it and am happy to to see you did not attack it with a 5/16 drill and or a 5/64 drill. advice may be free on these phono sites but both of these replies ARE INCORRECT! although the information given was well intentioned, you would have not succeeded in your repair-------but have destroyed or ruined your carraige. i cringe when erronious information is given because THIS IS YOUR MACHINE and if the advice given does not work ,then what does one say "oops"? welcome to these various "info" sites but please think twice before you attempt anything. michael
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Dean
New Member
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Post by Dean on Jan 23, 2009 20:13:19 GMT -5
Thank for your offer on the screw removal Michael. Much appreciated. When I get to the point where I'm ready to move on it, I may take you up on your offer. I would cover the shipping cost both ways of course. Thanks again. Dean
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kevan
Junior Member
Over Hill and Dale
Posts: 87
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Post by kevan on Jan 23, 2009 20:15:18 GMT -5
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kevan
Junior Member
Over Hill and Dale
Posts: 87
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Post by kevan on Jan 23, 2009 20:33:46 GMT -5
bostonmike If you read over the posts again. I never once told dean to drill anything. I am fixing my own machine and that is the way I going to fix it and bill was kind enough to give advice on the size of drill bit not to use. Bill has helped me many time in the past and I will always count on this board for good advice when needed including yours. kevan
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Post by MordEth on Jan 23, 2009 21:34:13 GMT -5
...Ah Jeez. I know that didn't work just by looking at it. ... Dean, You would want to copy/paste the ‘ IMG code’ from Photobucket for each of your images, although I opted to cut them and post my cropped versions as links to your full-size images: Hope this helps. If you have any questions about embedding images, please let me know—I can’t help you much with the phonographs, but I can help you with anything online. — MordEth
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Post by maroongem on Jan 24, 2009 8:52:06 GMT -5
My question is on the underside and motorworks. There is significant rust there, but still seems to operate. ( Don't have cylinders so I can't prove it out) If I take the rust off, the paint goes with it. If I leave it, it looks like heck and probably won't run as smoothly. Dean Dean, The motor frame was an unpainted casting so cleaning it with a wire brush or wire wheel attached to a bench grinder or hand drill should clean it up nicely. You may want to disassemble the motor assembly beforehand and that way you can clean all shafts, gears, screws, bearing holes, and pivots as well. If you feel daunted by where everything goes after you take it apart, you can always make sketches or take pix while disassembling to help in later reassembly. A light coating of a thin oil dampened rag wiped on all parts should help keep the rust from returning. Bill
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Dean
New Member
Posts: 23
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Post by Dean on Jan 24, 2009 12:51:09 GMT -5
I am so impressed by how helpful you all are on this board. Thank you very much. I'm slowly building up the confidence to tackle my little project. I am moving very slowly because I just don't want to screw it up. This Edison Home B was passed down to me from my Grandmother. I'm not sure where she got it from but I believe it was purchased by one of my great grandparents. When they moved from their ranch on the prairies to the new ranch in B.C. in 1949, there was no spot for the old phonograph in the house I guess. Thus started the downfall of this beautiful machine. She decided to store it and all the cylinders ( Boxes of them ) out under the bunk house. Not the best place, but still dry, although dusty, and the risk of mice making a home in it. We'll the mice didn't come, but the hired hand's little kids did find it. From beautiful machine to near junk just like that. (By the way this wasn't the kids fault in my mind. If you don't want kids to wreck your stuff, then put it under lock and key!!). The kids, having not too many toys were probably delighted when they found this wonderful mechanical mechanism. This trumped tinker toys easily. They grabbed the machine, grabbed all the boxes of cylinders and had a gay old time!! Then they discovered how easily the cylinders broke. Well... away they went. Smashed them all.. Sooner or later they were called in for dinner and away they went, and the Edison sat.. outside.. unoticed..( becasue it was behind the bunk house where Grannie never went.) The rain came and that was it, the veneer cracked and peeled, the rust attacked, and it turned into what you see today. I still find it amazing that when I wound it up the motor purred like a kitten. Amazing machines!!! ( I still have my first stereo in the basement. I think if it spent a month or so outside, it might not work afterward). That was my last ramble. sorry. Dean
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Dean
New Member
Posts: 23
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Post by Dean on Jan 24, 2009 13:28:15 GMT -5
I am curious as to what the small dents are on the motor housing. It almost looks like it was hit with a punch to spread the metal. Possibly to better align a screw hole. Or.... someone became frustrated during a restoration and gave it a load of buckshot!! My rust removal and motor cleaning has begun. Is it acceptable to use mineral spirits to clean grease and gunk from the motor or is there a better way?
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Post by maroongem on Jan 24, 2009 16:42:55 GMT -5
Dean,
That's a neat story. I'm sure the kids found that a fun toy, especially where they might not have had much to entertain themselves with. As far as leaving it outside, heck, just look in your neighbor's yard who has kids. Bikes and assorted playthings usually abound. I lifted the motorboard of one of my Homes and I have similar marks in the same location, but mine are 8 divots in a circle with a ninth in the center. I'm wondering if this was some sort of casting mark from the mold to identify which mold it came from in the event there was a problem with the casting and they could check that particular mold for any issues. I know numbers were used for that purpose but perhaps this is for the same reason. That wire passing through the pulley looks very much like the ones used on the later Amberola flywheels as an anti-flutter control. I've never seen that before on the earlier cylinder machines. I wonder if this was factory done for that purpose or a home made idea? There are many solvents you can use for degreasing, gasoline/petrol, naptha, turpentine, etc. There are even solvents out there that don't stink up the house and are environmentally friendly as well. Everyone has their own choice for degunking these critters!
Bill
EDIT* I'm going to check the 3 other Homes we have and look for those marks!!!! I never noticed this before!!
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Post by maroongem on Jan 24, 2009 16:53:07 GMT -5
Kevan, I was so impressed by yours, I just bought one myself!!! Thanks for the link!!!! AND..........I looks like it could be used on a cylinder machine too!!! You sure as heck can't beat the price. Bill
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Post by bostonmike1 on Jan 24, 2009 18:02:32 GMT -5
dean---here is what i will do for you as i have done for others on this site and collector groups i belong to. remove the four screws from the base that secures the gear cluster to the motor frame and gently slide it off the mainspring shaft. there is nothing majical about this Dean. take the gear cluster and wrap it well in bubble-wrap or something equally protective and mail it to me. i will completely dismantle the cluster,polish the gears and shafts inspect the govenor (the part with the three spinning weights) for wear, regrease the the individual parts prior to reassembly, and sandblast the two side walls to remove all rust and crap. you will not recognise your cluster when you get it back (approx. one week after i receive it) and replace the tension arm and spring that you are missing. you pay for the arm and spring -----probably around $15.00 and shipping both ways. i just mailed out yesterday an entire system like yours (cluster and mainspring and motor frame) to a lady in Michigan that i met on another site who like you was apprehensive about attacking her "found"unit but wanted it to work at it's optimum best. i do not do this for money---i do this to help others. i have a small machine shop in my basement and at work a world-class tool and die shop under my command and direction. one has to be highly qualified to work for us (people call themselves machinists but they do not last long with us) and i will be personally doing your work myself. here is the best piece of advice i can give you in your restoration project Dean----------HAVE YOUR MAINSPRING DISASSEMBLED , CLEANED, REGREASED AND REWOUND!) this is the most integral part of your unit and must NOT be overlooked. if you do any research you will find that on the Home models especially, the mainspring is underpowered if not maintained properly. i would not recogmend a novice on his first time out to do it him/her self since injury can occur. the average cost to have it reconditioned is approx. $60.00----i can recogmend a company to have it done--- plus the ever present shipping costs required or you can mail it to me when you get your cluster back and just incur the mailing expense ----i'll do the rest for you. either way, do not ignore or skip this step. it may turn as you stated, but your top-works (everything on your bedplate--your lead screw etc.) will be underpowered. i will also send you to a collectors info site which will explaind in detail the PROPER way it to refinish and repair your case and lid. i have seen his work and it is first-class. he taught me. that includes the venier repair and how to correctly apply and purchase the Edison decal required. i'll stop for now---just let me know if you would like my help. michael i will even send you a two minute cylinder from my collection so you can play it when you get your unit up and running. good luck my friend.
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Dean
New Member
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Post by Dean on Jan 24, 2009 18:05:21 GMT -5
Will someone give me Mr. Edison's Address? It appears my Reproducer gaskets are faulty, as they have prematurely disintegrated after only 103 years, and I would like a free replacement pair. I believe my great grandfather purchased the extended warranty. Does anyone know whether there might be more than two gaskets? The gasket on the left was under the diaphram and the gasket on the right was on top of the diaphram. ( re: the gasket on the left)- It almost looks like there was a paper gasket on top of the rubber gasket.
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Post by maroongem on Jan 24, 2009 18:27:11 GMT -5
Dean,
There were only two gaskets used in an Edison Reproducer. The paper you see stuck to the gasket material was to prevent the rubber gasket from sticking to the copper (and later rice paper) diaphragm) when tightening. You often times find a paper ring under the gasket that goes closest to the sound cup. I can mail you two gaskets if you would like.
Bill
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Dean
New Member
Posts: 23
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Post by Dean on Jan 24, 2009 18:28:03 GMT -5
Michael. Thank you once again for the kind offer. As I am making a short term hobby of this project, I have decided for now to remove rust and clean only. I'm not going to touch the broken screw for now or take apart the motor, with exception of removing the top plate from the motor works. However, having said that, if I'm allowed to take a raincheck on the offer, I would really appreciate it. I live in British Columbia, so my shipping costs will be about 3 million dollars to and from New York. Your advice on the main spring makes sense. I have unravelled a few band saw blades from the box and almost decapitated myself, so I will NOT be attempting to re & re a mainspring. If you know of a good place to send it to get it done, I would appreciate it. I assume you are referring to the power of the mainspring as opposed to how long the motor runs after winding. Am I correct? The motor does run forever after winding but I'm not sure if it is strong enough to play a cylinder. Also, please do send me the link regarding finishing the box. That would be much appreciated. Interesting how well things were made in 1906. I've been packing this thing around for years by the handle. Little did I know the joints weren't glued anymore. ( Result of sitting out in the rain, I guess). It was being held together only by the strength of the joint, not the glue. It comes to pieces with very little pressure. So there will be a reglue prior to the refinish. Once again thank you very much for generous offer. Dean.
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