Gramophone spring removal & installation*See Description

This is a video showing the main spring of a gramophone being removed from & replaced into the spring barrel.
The object of this video is to show people who may want to attempt maintainence or repairs on their own mechanical gramophone or phonograph, but are unsure of what they'd expect to find in the barrel, and the proceedure (I use) to remove & replace a main spring.

Bare in mind, that the larger the barrel size, the larger & stronger the spring inside will be.
The spring shown in this video is a fairly small one, so is easier to control than a longer & wider spring such as those found in Edison machines, or the larger HMV/ Victor Victrola motors.
As you can see, it's not a job for anyone who doesn't like to get their hands dirty, but for those who wish to attempt regreasing a good spring, or replacing a broken spring, my advise it to

*PROCEED WITH EXTREME CAUTION!*

There is tremendous amounts of force in some of these springs, and they can cause "serious injury" if the spring gets away from you.
Gloves are a good idea due to chemicals & substances in the old grease, for those who feel comfortable wearing them. Safety glasses should also be worn.
Personally, I like to be able to feel the spring directly, finding I have better control without them.
I've been doing it this way since I was 13 yr old & have 30 yrs practice, so it may look a little easier than it actually is.
Some people use two pieces of wood with a large V cut into the sides, and use these in a vice to hold the spring barrel from moving while working on the spring. I'd recommend doing this if you are attempting this for the first time, or for large spring barrel.

For any other collectors out there with several machines, who would like to give it ago for the first time, I'd suggest starting off with a small spring from a portable or similar machine, just so you can get a feel for the power of a small spring & a bit of practice, before tackling a larger spring.

This was just a quick video to show the proceedure, and isn't particularly clear because of the angle filmed & my hands in the way etc. I may attempt to refilm it so as to show how I do it more clearly, which I will either replace this upload with, or add as a video responce.

Good luck...& above all BE CAREFUL! :-)

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• gramophone
• phonograph
• Main
• Spring
• Installation
• Replacement
• Removal
• Maintainence

[RollaArtis]

You are making hard work of all this - and spiral springs are more likely to break if the edges are marked or damaged as has occurred here. Why not use a clock mainspring winder to take it out? As used by the manufacturer I'm sure, much safer and easier.

[gramophoneshane]

@RollaArtis To each their own I guess. I just dont see the point in spending $100-$200 (or more) for a spring winder when you can do any spring by hand in a couple minutes. That's the price of another machine or two :)

If I was doing this for clients on a regular basis, it would be a worthwhile investment, but I only do a spring or two every few months.

BTW: What edge damage are you refering to? The spring in this demo wasn't broken or damaged.

[ballabing12]

Great vid! Any experience with Decca 50 spring? Need to repair mine, but cant seem to get the barrel open...

[gramophoneshane]

@ballabing12 Musta missed the email 4 this. I've never done a Decca 50, but the covers of barrels are usually held on in 1 of 3 ways. A circlip, small screws, or the lid is jammed tightly into the barrel. For these, you need to remove the centre arbor from the barrel (the thing that winds the spring from the centre) and insert a wood or metal rod in the hole at the bottom. Insert on an angle so the rod rests against the inside of the lid, and gently tap the rod on the ground to force lid off

[JoshuaIn1927]

Thanks for this video. I've got a few gramophones, but always worried about opening the barrel thinking the spring would jump out at me.

I did as you suggested, and did a small portable yesterday. It was easier than I expected. I wore gloves to remove it, but ditched them to put it back, finding they got in my way. I'll be cleaning all my springs in the near future. Thanks again for taking the mystery out of this simple operation.

[HartfordTommy]

It's such a perfect demo video, of the correct procedure, you do it all so well and also prove by logical words the truth of the best method. Thanks very much!

[blazeracer1]

I just got a Gramophone yesterday. The motor starts dragging after one record plays to where the weight of the needle will make the turntable stop. Will cleaning out the spring give it a longer runtime?

[kirtley2010]

how do you clean off the old grease, i am struggling to do that with one of my motors

[Valveman11]

Thanks for the video! I've used this method several times now and have never had a problem. The key is to take it slow and steady, and make sure that you have a good grip on that spring at all times! I tried gloves, but I feel that I get more control over the spring with my bare hands. I've actually found larger springs to be easier... There're more places for you to hold it!

Now if I'm going to replace the spring, I won't hesitate to stick the barrel in a heavy burlap sack and yank it out!

[meyiyiyi55]

you made that look easy!

but im kinda scared of this.

[RollaArtis]

@gramophoneshane Although the spring can be removed and replaced by hand they can be unwieldy if not to say messy. With a spring winder one can avoid all this and remove it without distorting the spring in any way. When removing it free hand the edges of the spring will rub against each other and are liable to mark the edges to some degree, and introduce stresses which are outside its natural form. Having said all that it's a very long and thin spring so in practise it doesn't really matter.

[gramophoneshane]

@gramophoneshane but you'll need to tell him you need an aluminium diaphragm for a "Columbia No.15 soundbox". If you say "HMV" to any American parts supplier they'll say they dont have parts for HMVs, but a Columbia 15 & your HMV no.21 soundbox are basically the same thing. George will also have the rubber diaphragm gasket tubing. I dont know of anyone making the rear rubber flange gasket that hold the box on the arm for the 21, but I've made my own using black silicon sealant

[gramophoneshane]

@husbondensrost If you google "nipperhead", they have a section on rebuilding reproducers. The site is undergoing upgrades, but if you click on "old nipperhead pages", then on reproducers, at the bottom of the page you'll find rebuilding a victor exhibition. All soundboxes follow the same basic rules of restoration so it should help. Parts will have to come from USA & I'd recommend George Vollema of Great Lakes Antique Phonographs. He should have replacement diaphragms......cont....