Looking over a black HMV-102 before servicing

[@walkingtheboogie]

Thanks for this video. I think my spring has become unhooked due to it being fully unwound after playing, as I read was recommended but perhaps shouldn't be. It was serviced earlier this year and had a new spring, so I am going to attempt to sort that out whilst hoping I don't cause issues with things falling out of the motor that I can't get back in myself, as I'm no expert and not so practical when it comes to manual stuff like this.

[@Rockisland1903]

You spin the crank and nothing happens? Yea, spring related, hard to say what it might be without opening up the spring barrel. Under the main spindle shaft is a tiny ball bearing, it can fall out so be careful not to lose it when you lift off the plate. Work with the motor on an old towel to catch loose small parts like that. There is, or should be some washers, or washer on the shaft holding the spring barrel, note their position. You shouldn't have to remove the governor, there are tiny ball bearings under each end of that shaft as well. A new, or old for that matter spring should not slip off the barrel. These springs have the bent end in the middle, and pear shaped hold on the outer end. the middle can only snap off, the outer end would only come off on being fully cranked up, otherwise pressure from the spring holds it very firmly in place. It may have snapped on the outer end as if it came loose fully cranked up it would have made an impressive noise. It's also possible that the pin snapped off the barrel. The spring is 1" x 12-15', it is available from US suppliers by using the spring intended for the Victrola VV-IV 1918-1920 that retained the hole on the outer end while going to the bent end in the middle. If you need me to look it over just pull the motor and send it to me, contact me at [e-mail]

[@walkingtheboogie]

​@@Rockisland1903 Thanks for the reply. I am in the UK and that should be really helpful. I'm just about to undo it.

[@namasteantique8269]

Good information lot of love from India ❤

[@wurlitzer895]

There is a village named 'Carbis Bay' in the south west English county of Cornwall.

[@lincolnrowe4552]

Are there any places that sell new springs? I have looked around and cant find any. I would like to try making a gramophone, including the motor, from scratch but I can't really make a specially designed power spring

[@Matt78collector]

Do you know the exact year of this specific machine?

[@Rockisland1903]

Sometime between 1935-1936, wood motorboard starts in 1935, and the " bullets" on the turntable vanish around 1936, and the record tray itself vanishes at the start of the war, but was a flat bottom tray by that point.

[@Matt78collector]

@@Rockisland1903 Does this one have the circular identification plaque or the rectangle one?

[@Rockisland1903]

5.52 in the video, round tag.@@Matt78collector

[@abiodunadegokeoliyide2008]

I have one that needs servicing and the pin is gone. The rod is stiff and isn't turning. Please help me. It was my grand father's and now it's mine

[@joenelson9489]

Do you know when they went from the 5A to the 5B reproducer?

[@Rockisland1903]

Sometime in the late 1930's I think.

[@joenelson9489]

@@Rockisland1903 Thanks for this info! I just got an HMV 102. Tone quality is excellent, but I'm disappointed with wavering sound. Any ideas?

[@Rockisland1903]

Have you checked the speed? Weak mainsprings or a lack of maintenance on the motor can cause the turntable speed to fluctuate up or down a few rpm . Speed is checked with a stroboscope disc, or an app on your smartphone. Sometimes there can be reproducer issues like damaged needlebar, or loose needlebar bearing caps, even holes eaten in the aluminum diaphragm. I would start with lubricating the motor and then checking the speed.

[@joenelson9489]

@@Rockisland1903 thank you very much for this info! Speed was inconsistent per strobe disc. If I can get nearly two full plays off a single winding would that that indicate that spring was not weak?

[@jonathansmith2168]

@@joenelson9489 I haven't personally repaired these gramophones, but if they're anything like motion picture cameras from the era it may be old grease. It will for hard, dry clumps and cause the machine to not be able to run smoothly.

[@Lucius1958]

'Greased and serviced 2015'? More like palm greased and lip serviced. Hope to hear it make sweet music again!