Rockola 440 Animation

VA Bigdog · by **VA Bigdog** » Fri Nov 07, 2014 10:14 pm

Does anyone have (or know someone that has) a 440 with the animation kit installed?

I have finally managed to get all of the pieces for this, except for the drive gear on the motor. I've bought 2 motor/gear pieces, but neither of them appear to have the correct gear. One of them is way too small and the pitch isn't even close. The other one is close, but it looks as though someone had taken another gear and just cut out every other tooth to make it work.

I'd be forever appreciative if anyone could send me the actual measurements of this gear, or trace it on a piece of paper or whatever it would take for me to possibly locate one that will work. I'll carve one out of a tree stump if I know what the finished product should be!

Thanks!!
Nelson

by **Ron Rich** » Sat Nov 08, 2014 1:31 am

Nelson,
Just a "hair-brained idea"--can you use a belt, or friction drive, there ??
Ron Rich

VA Bigdog · by **VA Bigdog** » Sat Nov 08, 2014 3:31 am

Ron,

I've definitely thought about alternate drive methods. If not familiar, the animation on this uses 3 8" multicolored discs that are really just big spur gears themselves. They mesh together to rotate, so I need a way to put them in motion. Since the light shines through them, I'm limited to what can go behind as it would create shadows. The best way is to drive them from the outer edge which is, of course, geared. Guess that's why Rockola did it that way

: 440motor.gif (48.81 KiB) Viewed 514 times

by **Ron Rich** » Sat Nov 08, 2014 7:11 pm

I never have seen that animation before--but I do have a question--have you looked in the parts book for either a number for the gear, or the motor ? Once you have a number ( or 2), try Victory glass--they MAY have it in stock ! Ron Rich

VA Bigdog · by **VA Bigdog** » Sun Nov 09, 2014 2:59 am

I've inquired at all the places I can find - no luck. I'm probably a bit late to this game and will just have to keep my eyes open and hope I get lucky - or find another method to drive the discs.

Unfortunately, the animation kit was an extra cost add-on. It doesn't show up in the parts books (that I've found) as anything other than a part number for the entire kit. The only model to ever use this kit was the 440 in 1969, so it's a fairly rare animal. From what I've read, the motor and drive gear were the most likely to fail and often did, which makes for even fewer of them around.