Edison Standard B Quest to rebuild

[kevan]

When mounting the gear cluster and spring barrel to the bottom of the bed plate there are three screws involved. Now should there be 3 springs or 6 ?

This is my first rebuild and I'm not sure if I got all the parts with this one.

Thanks in advance (more questions to come)

kevan

[maroongem]

Kevan,

There are 3 screws w/springs that mount the motor assembly to the bottom of the bedplate. The springs are necessary to help eliminate the vibration of the motor.
This pic of my B has an arrow pointing to the spring/bolt assy. near the mainspring shaft arbor. There are two others on the opposite side of the frame. Hope this helps!

Bill

[kevan]

Thanks Bill
Now is the spring between the Motor assy and the bed plate or the bottom of the motor assy and the head of the screw. I just got an email back for another helping friend and he said to do it right there should be 6 springs. So now I'm wondering how Edison did it.

[maroongem]

Kevan,

The best way to replace the springs is to remove the bedplate from the frame. First remove the two screws from the motorboard stay on the left inside the case. Then remove the 4 screws in the corners from the top of the bedplate.
You can then support the bedplate upside down on two blocks of wood at each end, or even a sturdy box that is shorter than the length of the bedplate.
There are recessed wells for the springs on the underside of the motor frame and this is where 3 of the springs and bolt head go, and the other three go on the opposite side between the bedplate & motor frame.

Bill

[kevan]

Thanks Bill
I only got 4 springs in the bag of parts so I have ordered 2 more to have the 6 I need. While I am waiting for them I'm giving everything a good cleaning.

kevan

[maroongem]

Kevan,

You'll be very happy when you get that baby up and running. That was a very sturdy and powerful motor in the Standard and should get you through 3-4 2M cylinders effortlessly!!

Bill

[kevan]

That's good to know Bill
This machine came with a diamond B reproducer and a large horizontal carriage arm but I am going to pick up a two min reproduce and the right carriage to play them. Oh and it has the 2/4min gearing. The only thing I have found to be wrong is the gear cover, It's for a standard D and up not a B with the extra gears. Oh well
I can't wait to put a cygnet horn on it. I think that is the best looking set up for a phonograph, to me .

Next winter, and I'm talking WINTER, we got 60 cm of snow today, I have not seen this much snow fall in 12 hours since the 70's
I'm going to buy and work on a red Gem.

I will have more question as I get deeper into this rebuild, so thanks alot for being here for me.
Kevan

[maroongem]

Kevan,

Do I understand correctly your machine has the 2/4M gearing? If so you have the correct gear cover as the B was only 2M and the cover won't fit. You don't need to replace the carriage arm but you can pick up a drop in reducer that fits in the large carriage arm and reduces the area for a smaller type reproducer such as a C, H, or K. I may have one kicking around and will send you a pic. Where your machine has the horizontal carriage. are there 3 screw holes about midway at the rear of the case, or is there already the base for the cygnet horn crane still there? You will get the optimum sound with a cygnet horn on that baby.
Gem mod. Ds are cool. Especially if they still have the
Mod. K 2/4M reproducer. Don't expect much though. Even with a full wind, I only get one play from an Amberol or BA from mine. But, I think they were the nicest looking of the smaller Edison cylinder machines with that maroon finish (thus my name here).
Heh, we got about 10" today, then about 1/4 of ice on top of that so I hear where you are coming from.
Everyone is here for you, we have all been where you are, and as we all progress, we will always be asking questions, and hopefully one of us will have an answer.

Bill

[kevan]

Bill
I did'nt know there was a reducer ring. That would be great! then I would only need a new reproducer for two minute music. I find some of the blues really s t r e c h out a song to fill a 4 min cylinder.

the pic below shows the added gears for 2/4min

s135.photobucket.com/albums/q159/kevan04/?action=view¤t=8375_1.jpg


the gear cover for the 2min ONLY is very slender in width and has two screws that screw into the bedplate. I need a much wider gear cover

this link below is the one I got, but the side slots do not line up with anything. I was told it is for a Standard D and up.

i135.photobucket.com/albums/q159/kevan04/DSC00313.jpg

This one below is the one I need, I was told? What do you think?

s135.photobucket.com/albums/q159/kevan04/?action=view¤t=547e_1.jpg

Kevan

[maroongem]

Hi Kevan,

Where you have the later Edison offered 2/4M attachment, the 2nd gear cover you show should fit your machine.

Bill

[brent]

This is what the adaptor looks like.

[kevan]

Welcome aboard and thanks Brent for the picture

It's looks like, what I though it would and now to find one. I see there is no thumb screw to hold the smaller reproducer in place. Will this be a concern with a cygnet horn set up or is there a way to secure the reproducer to the ring?

kevan

[brent]

Thanks Kevan.
There's a small set screw in the same position as the thumb screw, which is tightened to hold the reproducer in place. The set screw goes below the outer surface of the ring, to allow it to be inserted into the carry arm. These are pot metal, so you may not find a good original very easily, but surely someone makes repro's?

George Vollema at Great Lakes Antique Phonographs may be able to point you in the right direction.

[maroongem]

Kevan,

I'm still looking for the spare I have. As mentioned earlier, they are potmetal and may have swelled over time, but I've always been able to carefully file the OD and then touch it up with scotchbright to have it fit well. After a few months, the potmetal darkens and you can't even tell it was filed. The IDs on the ones I've had have never been affected, it seems only the OD presents the problem.

Bill

[kevan]

Bill
Call me crazy, but......... what the heck is ID's and OD's.

kevan