Missing part. Not turning fast enough

[jeff21]

Just received a 1907 standard phonograph. Belonged to my great great grandfather. Trying to get it operational. It isn't turning fast enough and i have a stand but mount pieces are missing to hold up horn...p.s. how to I add a photo?

[lucius1958]

Hi, and welcome to the board!

First off: this phonograph has probably not been touched for the better part of a century, so you should start with a good disassembly and cleaning. For the novice restorer, Eric Reiss's "The Compleat Talking Machine" is an invaluable reference.

Slow speed is most likely the result of old, hardened oil and grease. Thorough cleaning and re-lubrication of the motor and upper works will certainly improve their performance (Note: ALWAYS make sure that the motor is COMPLETELY WOUND DOWN before you try disassembling it).

In later models which do not have an end gate, there is a central bearing on the mandrel shaft (the drum that holds the cylinder) that can get swollen over time, and affect the speed as well. Usually, these bearings should be replaced: there are suppliers who make new bearings, if you look in the section for resources here, or on the Talking Machine Forum (TMF).

As for adding photos: you should see a button marked "Attachments" on your posting page. You can select a file (or files) from your photo library, and drag them there; if you have photos uploaded to a sharing site, you can link the URL to the post.

I hope this has been helpful to you, and am looking forward to seeing your machine.

BillS