Amberola Model 50

[timod9857]

Hello & Merry Christmas To All,

I have new set of problems, I acquired an Amberola 50. I am doing a pretty good job of restoring it but I ran into a small snag. I can not find any pictures of the parts so I'm a little lost. The horn is not connected to the bottom of the case and I'm lost as to how it should be connected. When I play a cylinder the recorder are appears to catch when the horn is completely to either the left or right. I tried to lightly screw it down but this does not seem to work. Does anyone out there know the correct method for attaching the horn to the case? Was there just a small post, some sort of pivot point or bearings? As always I will appreciate any assistance anyone might be able to supply. If anyone has some questions or concerns please feel free to contact me either through this board or my e-mail address. Thanks in advance for your help and assistance.

Tim O'D
[e-mail]

[condensite]

Tim:
I've sent you an email with a photo showing how the horn is attached. I'd bet the parts you need would be easy to find via a phonograph restorer. I've provided an email address also.
Good luck
Bob Barnett
ps: Also, the horn is suspended from below the mechanism bedplate by a long narrow spring. You should see a hook on the throat of the horn behind the horn opening. You could probably find a suitable replacement at a good hardware store.

[maroongem]

Tim,

Does the bottom of your horn have a post that sticks out from the center line perpendicular, or does it have a reinforced hole in the same basic location a few inches back? I ask because the earlier ones had an L shaped bracket with a vertical slot that that post fit into and the post "rolled" in that slot as the carriage traveled across the carriage rod. The later ones had a post that was attached to the floor of the cabinet and this went through a reinforced hole in the bottom of the horn and the horn base pivoted on that. As Bob said, the spring is important too as it suspends the horn slightly so as to assist in the lifting of the horn so the carriage can move horizontally without too much drag.

Bill

[timod9857]

Hey All,

Thanks for the help. My Amberola 50 has a reinforced hole in the center. It appears that a post or long screw goes through it and allows it to pivot. Thanks again for all of the assistance.

Thanks,
Tim O'D

[maroongem]

Tim,

If the horn is original to the machine, you will see evidence of the base plate on the bottom of the cabinet (screw holes) that held the base plate & rod that the horn pivoted on. I'm guessing that your reproducer is black painted in lieu of nickel plating?

Bill

[timod9857]

Hey, Hey, Hey,

Just like the Bad Penny . . . I'm back . . . I double checked the machine and found;
The reproducer is indeed black painted. I'm not sure if the horn is original or not but there was a small hole in the bottom center of the horn and it was reinforced. There was also one small hole in the cabinet but nothing else. The hole matched to the reinforced center of the horn but no evidence of any brass plate or anything else. The hole does not go through to the outside but was slightly bigger then the horn screw I purchased, (from a gentleman on eBay called CoakingFrog). I reinforced the hole and added some small pieces of wood to make it smaller. There was only the one hole. I am wondering if there is something else missing.
One last question, I know that the machine is a Model 50 but am wondering if i t is a Model A or B? Is there some way to find out? Once again thank you all in advance for your help. I truly appreciate it and hope I will be able to offer some in the future.

Thanks,
Tim O'D

[maroongem]

Hi Tim,

That hole in the base was for a small plate that was screwed there. This plate had and upright post that the hole in the base of the horn fit over. When the Reproducer moved across the carriage rod, the horn end that connects to the sound tube outlet rolled on the outlet and the base pin alowed side movement of the horn bottom. As Condensite mentioned, the was a suspension spring that was attached to a hook on top of the horn and the other end was attached to a hook under the bedplate. This suspended the horn off of the case floor and allowed smoother movement of the Reproducer across the rod.
I'm not aware of any A or B designations but there were modifications and changes done throughout the production.

Bill