Spring steel is crystalline in structure -- hard and brittle. While any spring -- new or old -- may potentially break at any time, leaving springs wound for long periods of time causes the spring to develop a "memory". The spring will not want to unwind well past the point where it remained, thus robbing the mechanism of both strength and playing time. It also makes the spring more liable to break (springs break both across the width of the spring, and split lengthwise at the rivet) when the are subjected to stress they are not used to, such as winding or unwinding past the position where the "memory" has developed. Winding springs up almost to the point where the crank stops (but not quite) and allowing them to unwind to a fully relaxed position also forces the lubricating grease through the coils and helps keep the spring well-lubed and silent. My 37 years in the hobby votes to always allow the spring to unwind after a playing session. ----- Original Message ----- From: bruce78rpm Sent: Saturday, December 11, 2004 11:28 AM To: Antique Phonograph List Subject: Re: [Phono-L] Storage... wound or unwound... that is the question I like to be philosophical about this. Just as the human body reacts negatively to stress when it is not relieved over a period of time, so would the 75-100 year old main springs of a phonograph or gramophone that remain wound up over periods of time without relief. I cannot speak for those who have taken an opposite approach, I can only state that I have always taken the "wind them down" approach, and my machines have never popped a spring in all the years I have been collecting, and playing them. ----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, December 11, 2004 10:32 AM Subject: [Phono-L] Storage... wound or unwound... that is the question
> What is the general consensus on leaving your machines wound or unwound > between long periods of non-use? > > I know that there are several thoughts on this, but what is the best > practice? > > Thanks! > _______________________________________________ > Phono-L mailing list > [email protected] > > Phono-L Archive > http://www.oldcrank.org/pipermail/phono-l/ _______________________________________________ Phono-L mailing list [email protected] Phono-L Archive http://www.oldcrank.org/pipermail/phono-l/Get more from the Web. FREE MSN Explorer download : http://explorer.msn.com
