Jump to content

Columbia Eagle


Neilvanstem

Recommended Posts

Only a few photos of my machine to show the stipes on the mandrel and to ask if something can remove those or if I should just ignore it? I assume those stripes are from a cylinder?

100_4486.JPG

100_4488.JPG

100_4490.JPG

Link to comment
Share on other sites

From your photos, it looks like a spiral. My guess is that it's tape residue from someone trying to play cylinders that were too loose on the mandrel. If it were mine, I would clean it with naphtha lighter fluid and then give it a good polish with Mother's or Flitz. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Often folks suggest items not commonly found around the house. Any suggestions for items I have around the house? Naptha? Lighter fluid? Any more common household items you can suggest?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Neil, while you may not have naphtha lighter fluid at your house, you can literally buy it at every hardware store, grocery store, even gas stations. Commonly sold under the ronsonol or zippo brands. I always have some on hand. I use it for removing labels constantly. Same with mothers mag & aluminum polish or flitz metal polish, you can buy it at any hardware or auto parts store. You can also buy both on amazon. Why settle with something improper when you can spend maybe $5 and get the right stuff? These are things every phono collector should have on hand, in my opinion. Along with a good light oil, a good grease, and either non-pumice gojo or my favorite: new life furniture masque. I wouldn't be caught dead without any of these!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have so much under my kitchen cabinet just wonder if some of that stuff might also work. I do love gojo, restore a finish, and etc. But worry about now having to buy another item when I have two cabinets full of stuff. I do have metal polish too...... two kinds. 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've learned the hard way: the right tool for a job will save a lot of headaches. Having cabinets full of solvents, polishes, oil, etc. comes with the territory of collecting anything mechanical. We all have those cabinets. ?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It's very hard to tell from a photo, but to me that looks like corrosion. I'm guessing that someone left a cylinder on the mandrel for a very long time, and the contact between the ribbed lining of the cylinder reacted with the nickel. I've seen similar corrosion on mandrels that had Blue Amberols left on them for decades. I suspect the plaster retained moisture, which was then kept in direct contact with the plating.

 

It is absolutely worth trying a solvent, as previously suggested, in case it is something on the surface. If that doesn't work, I would suggest lightly buffing it with 0000 steel wool, followed by a good metal polish. It may not be possible to bring back a perfect luster but it should look much better.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I agree with with the advice so far.  I had a similar problem with a mandrel a couple of years ago.

I started with solvents and then ended with polishing the mandrel on a buffing wheel.

I was not able to remove all of the damage (it was like rust that caused a pitting in the nickel surface) but after buffing the mandrel looked a lot better

 

Bruce

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have had excellent results removing corrosion using Evaporust.  You can get it at Harbor Freight.  You soak the piece in the solution overnight and it removes the corrosion.  It is not acid.  Then scrub it and polish with Flitz or Simichrome.  I have had zonophone bedplates and support arms that looked pretty tough turn out amazing.  
Gregg

  • Like 1
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Finally something I have around the house though taking things apart and soaking sounds extreme. But I do have evaporust and polish though not the ones mentioned. 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 months later...

The lines look like areas where the nickel plate has worn off.  Polish the surface with metal polish.  The remaining nickel will come up silvery and if the areas are devoid of plating, they will probably be brassy or at least different from the shine of the nickel.

 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...