Brunswick Spring Motor, Clean,Grease and then Playing!

[@TF856]

I worked in a clock repair shop for 18 years and we always used clock cleaning solution in an ultrasound machine. The best clock cleaning solution worked better than the others but was not allowed by law for some reason in some areas. Fire department limitations. We would leave them in the ultrasound cleaner until they were completely clean when we took them out. No scrubbing needed at all. We used special clock oil and Grease in our repairs. My daughter's friend just bought a Brunswick model 200 from the early 20s that I just fixed for her and got it running. I plan to do more work on it soon. Currently doing research on old phonograph repairs, tips & tricks. 😉 I love restoring antiques. 😃

[@thenorthamericanphonograph1039]

I would love to have an ultrasonic cleaner, I am sure it would do better than what I have but with a lot of scrubbing it does a pretty good job, sometimes the 100 year old grease needs extra effort , and so using a blade in each gear tooth is normal in this process, but an Ultrasonic would probably do fine.

[@TF856]

@@thenorthamericanphonograph1039 An ultrasound is a godsend for people working on old stuff like that. We frequently worked on clocks that were over 100 years old, and some were over 200 years old.

[@surfraptor]

Thanks for all the info. Am working on a HMV 102 I bought at the local dump for 65 euros. Cheers from Holland. I just managed to get the cleaned spring back in without injuries. :-)

[@agarso]

You should invest in an inexpensive tripod for your phone, it'll vastly improve the watchability, audio is just fine!

[@Musique3579]

I have always held the Brunswick in the highest regard as a top A+ instrument machine. The 3-way playback Reproducer is suburb in every way, In fact, the Brunswick plays an Edison Diamond Disk Record better then an Edison machine. Luckily, Brunswick was not cheap with the dia. of the Reproducers. In short, a good Brunswick is a Cadillac.

[@Musicradio77Network]

I got my 1923 Camp Fone portable phonograph yesterday and it looks good, but it needs some cleaning. Everything I looked is filthy and nasty after 95+ years of use. Everything I removed is the gears and the governor needs to be cleaned until it gets reassembled. I have not checked the springs yet. This portable has single only spring barrel with a screw attached if you want to remove it to have a replacement spring. I did that one time on my Victor VV 8-4 and it took me all day to clean the springs, because it used the 4-spring barrels with 2 springs for each in 1 which gives us 4. That’s a toughie.

[@thenorthamericanphonograph1039]

I have done those 4 spring Victors, they certainly can take all day.

[@Musicradio77Network]

The North American Phonograph Company One thing I forgot, I cleaned the shaft from the governor after taking them apart, and then put the pieces back together to have some pressure, put them back together, and BAM! My 1923 Camp-Fone now works! I tested out a 78, and it sounds amazing.

[@danielarick2105]

I have that record Apple Blossom Time is the flip side. I had a Brunswick model 210 one time the governor drive gear was a fiber gear

[@thenorthamericanphonograph1039]

Sorry about the audio I used the horrible built in microphone in the camera. We are going to start using the Yeti Blue microphone from now on for our videos.

[@Rebel9668]

Very interesting info. You might want to invest in a tripod to mount your camera on. Then you can much more easily point to the various screws, etc. showing what to do. Following the camera around handheld like that makes a lot of folks dizzy or nauseous, lol. I assume my own Brunswick model 207 has the same motor and next spring I'm going to attempt a restoration. I know I can do the cabinet work as I have restored several old radio cabinets. Where do you find new springs, parts, etc. if I may ask? I know for my radio work there are lots of places like Radiodaze, Antique Electronic Supply, etc. So far the only thing I can find wrong mechanically with my 207 is that the horn muffler knob behind the crank handle is missing and therefore I cannot adjust the volume. Take care, Gary

[@SuperStealthyNinjas]

I have a brunswick with a no. 2 motor. I need some parts for the spring barrel. Is this something you could help me with?

[@thenorthamericanphonograph1039]

@@SuperStealthyNinjas www.wyattsmusical.com/ Right now is about the only place selling new springs. My supplier passed away a few months ago, and the phonograph community, has been learning that Ron Sitko supplied everyone with springs who repairs machines, so a few people have already started making new parts.

[@ice4278]

do this motor have any ball bearings in it

[@andreporto8315]

Please, I would like an orientation if it is possible: I have a Brunswick Pantrope phonograph and the motor has 2 strings; the strings have been revised and replaced, but I can't give full strength and I can't play even one side of a 10-inch disc; in the middle of the execution the rope jumps, jumps ... and is very unpleasant. I would also like to know how many times I must turn the handle when winding the rope. Thank you very much, André.

[@thenorthamericanphonograph1039]

On the spring arbor you should see the rivets, that go in the center pear holes, note that one side of the rivet is closed and the other open. Your spring end goes in the open side of the rivet, and catches , as it goes in the skinny part of the pear shaped hole, and this will determine the direction the spring is wound in the barrel. Not many experts give instructions on how to fix machines. The astute and stodgy collectors, usually castigate me for showing how to repair motors.

[@tarstarkusz]

Do you happen to know how much power that spring can hold? Does the specification of the spring say what it is? I am guessing it is maybe powering 15 watts equivalent for 5 minutes which is only 1.25 watt hours (4500 joules).

[@thenorthamericanphonograph1039]

Those springs run about 6 minutes., so I am sure your calculations are close enough.

[@james-flynn1938]

How much graphite did you use?

[@thenorthamericanphonograph1039]

One tablespoon of graphite and two tablespoons of grease.

[@SuperAaronlewis]

Where did you get the spring you didn't use...?

[@thenorthamericanphonograph1039]

Ron Sitko. I have used his springs for over 25 years.

[@SuperAaronlewis]

@@thenorthamericanphonograph1039 Thank you.

[@tarstarkusz]

Vaseline and graphite! Thomas Edison phono grease.

[@thenorthamericanphonograph1039]

Yes. Vaseline and graphite (Dixon's NO. 2 flaked) was Edison's original formula, though it become a very sticky mess in about 15 years. I use graphite and synthetic Mobile 1 which should last longer.

[@tarstarkusz]

@@thenorthamericanphonograph1039 How long you recon the synthetic will last? Do we know what happens when it ages? The one saving grace of the old stuff (not necessarily vaseline, I was just being funny) is that it doesn't turn to a solid mess and is generally fairly easily (a relative term) to clean and doesn't corrode the metal. I've noticed modern gasoline can actually corrode the crap out of some metals when allowed to sit and decompose.

[@thenorthamericanphonograph1039]

@@tarstarkusz Who knows, perhaps we will find out it is a bad idea, or not any better than the petroleum jelly. It seems to work nicely for now, I have had some that had this lubricant for over 10 years with no problems.

[@tarstarkusz]

@@thenorthamericanphonograph1039 Thanks. Really, only time will tell. People thought the ceramic disc capacitors were cheap and would fail in no time, yet they are the ones that lasted.

[@thenorthamericanphonograph1039]

@@tarstarkusz That is certainlly true, those ceramics are durable, and mica moulded capacitors, while the paper and foil, and electrolytics fail.