Fletcher Phonograph

Does anyone have any info on Fletcher Phonographs? I just rescued one from the remains of a house and garage that burnt down on my road. Somehow the phonograph managed to survive intact, though is definately going to need some TLC. The lady said I could have it for $30 if I wanted to get it out. I definately wanted to save this old upright phonograph. So far the socket for the tonearm has been too tight and the catch for the winding mechanism won't work. Nothing like watching a crank suddenly start whirling around like crazy. And they hurt! The motor on this thing looks to be fully enclosed and I have no idea of how the crank comes loose to get the motor out. I tried winding it backwards like my Columbia, but all that does is unwind the spring or springs more. Any help would be appreciated.

Sim...,

I decided to do a bit of a search on the 'net, sorry nother really. However I wonder if it might some how be related to John Fletcher. Here's a page from Mainspring Press:
http://www.mainspringpress.com/little.html

Does it say anything of the motor? (when you can get to it check it out) Is there a location on the label? There were hundreds of off-brand phongraphs made once many of the original patents expired. a veritable boon of phonograph companies in the teens and twenties. Could you post some photos?

If I had to guess (and I'm far form an expert! ) I say the spring may be broken or un-hooked or the pawls on the rachet gear are toast. Have you tried removing the escutcheon that the crank goes through? Maybe if you hold the spindle or turntable still and then try to unscrew the crank? If you have a Columbia I assume you are familiar with potmetal, be very careful with that tonarm (as I'm sure you know!) If oiling doesn't work you may have to grind a bit off the tone arm.

Yes I know all about winding key attacks! My Granada sometimes bites back! Good luck with it!

Also see my response to mtworek...

Regards,
J.

I'll try to get some pictures of it soon, though where do you post them? It says Fletcher-wickes company Chicago, Illinois on the reproducer and tone arm. I think it also says Fletcher on the winding key. If I hold the winding key in place with my hand, the turntable will work and the springs seem ok. It did try to hold when I first got it, so I wonder if the heat from the fire might have caused the holding pawl to gum up? This one will be interesting for sure.

Gunk or rust!

There is probably gunk or rust on the ratchet assembly, keeping it from stopping the crank from turning.

Some cheap units always turned the crank slowly as the record played/.

Usually the crank just pulled straignt out of its socket for storage. But the cranks on some cheap units are not removable.

I've never come across a cabinet model in which the crank was not removable, which is not to say that there aren't some like this. Nonetheless, if the motor board is held in place by screws, and is removable for lubrication/servicing, then you should be able to remove the crank.

I would suspect that, on this model--and I base this on other off brand machines I've seen--that the crank shaft employed a coil spring, which prevented it from moving backwards as the springs unwind. It's possible that this coil spring is broken or has become disengaged.

The crank may be held in place via a slot in groove type connection, in which case, you would simply pull it out to remove it. If this does not work, spray some WD-40 into the area between the crank and "crank hole", and then try holding the turntable steady and turn the crank backwards. If this does not work, try turning the turntable in the opposite direction, while turning the crank backwards.

Im pretty sure I know the tone arm and sound box you mean. I've had a couple machines with these in the past. The ones I had were a hexagonal sound box and arm, and had a big weight that could be rotated, which was marked pathe' , victor/columbia, and edison..(I think, im going back about 20 years), and the sound box turned to enable the verticals to be played.
Here in Australia, a music store chain called "king & king" used them on all their models. I couldn't tell you whether they made complete machines, or if they were just a parts supplier. I dont think the motors were fletchers though- thorens i think??

The Following might be of interest to you:

From Google Patent Search -- (http://www.google.com/patents)

Fletcher Phonograph --

Corporation --
http://www.google.com/patents?vid=USPAT ... raph&jtp=1

Sound Box --
http://www.google.com/patents?vid=USPAT ... raph&jtp=1


Reference Page with Thumbnail links --
http://www.google.com/patents?vid=USPAT ... Phonograph

Thanks Joe,
That google patents could amuse me for hours- I really should say weeks!
Its a shame they didn't set it up so you could search by the patent number though.

shane wrote:Thanks Joe,
That google patents could amuse me for hours- I really should say weeks!
Its a shame they didn't set it up so you could search by the patent number though.

Hi Shane --

Actually, from what I can see, they did.

If you know the patent number, for instance, 1322890, just type it in the search box on this page --
http://www.google.com/patents?q=&btnG=Search+Patents -- and a list of items holding that number should appear, starting with the US patent information.

Also see, the Advanced Patent Search page which has a special box for the patent number -- http://www.google.com/advanced_patent_search

Joe_DS wrote:I've never come across a cabinet model in which the crank was not removable, which is not to say that there aren't some like this. Nonetheless, if the motor board is held in place by screws, and is removable for lubrication/servicing, then you should be able to remove the crank.

I would suspect that, on this model--and I base this on other off brand machines I've seen--that the crank shaft employed a coil spring, which prevented it from moving backwards as the springs unwind. It's possible that this coil spring is broken or has become disengaged.

The crank may be held in place via a slot in groove type connection, in which case, you would simply pull it out to remove it. If this does not work, spray some WD-40 into the area between the crank and "crank hole", and then try holding the turntable steady and turn the crank backwards. If this does not work, try turning the turntable in the opposite direction, while turning the crank backwards.

Joe,
I just had this problem with the Odd Duck phonograph I mentioned in another thread. The shaft has that damn broken spring. Fortunately for me the machine had a door in the back so I was able to place a vice-grip on the shaft so I could un-screw the crank. If the Fletcher has a removable back panel Sim should be able to reach the crank. Another thought, if the top is shallow enough, maybe Sim could un-screw the escutheon and try lifting the motorboard at an angle from the opposite side and see if he could fit a vice-grip in there.

Regards,
J.