Wurlitzer 1900 Centennial restoration

[Ron Rich]

Eugen,
How do you know that you are "the 1st person" to take it apart ? Ron Rich

[viperz]

Ron, just the amount of dirt, condition of bolt heads, and no signs of old paper. I'm not sure where it would go, as the plexiglass diffuser looks to be the perfect insulator between metal button base and chrome frame?

[Ron Rich]

Eugen,
It's not the base that requires the paper-- it's the adjoining, metal behind the whole keyboard assembly-- "People " lean against the phono, keyboard area, and it can flex just enough, to have the contacts back there, intermittently touch that metal-- (If my great, but not too long memory is correct, it's the ABCD button's contacts that do it. Ron Rich

[viperz]

Hi Ron, I took a couple of photos inside casting behind where letter buttons go.

Are these the locations that you're talking about?

Thank you.

photos.app.goo.gl/fxjhqZNa9gN2rvXi9

[Ron Rich]

Hi Eugen,
No-- BEHIND, the whole, keyboard assembly, as you slide it into position---Ron Rich

[viperz]

Sorry, as in after reinstall keyboard in casting, then put casting into the cabinet? So that would be where shiney casting slides into the cabinet?

[Ron Rich]

Hi Eugen,
This is getting frustrating for both of us-- so I'll try another way--
Hold the whole assembled keyboard in one hand Push the B, or C button-- Watch the rear as you do so-- see the movement there ? --
The point that that "movement" mates up with, which will be directly behind the keyboard, when you slide it into place, is what needs protection.
Ron Rich

[viperz]

I am trying to reassemble the mechanism. So far no spare parts left, but I did hit a snag.
The axle onto which the record carousel gets installed squeals when I'm spinning it. I tried oiling it with no success. It seems to squeal at the very top where axle goes through the black shelf.

I was told that I should be able to disassemble this piece to clean and oil, but I'm not sure how. Looks like there is some kind of tube across the top piece piece holds it in place. Do I need to carefully hammer it out?
Is it OK to do with selector mechanism attached at the bottom - if I remove top part, bottom part won't fall into selector section?

Here are couple photos and a video. Thank you.

photos.app.goo.gl/PMDkicFsphPr54Qw7

[Ron Rich]

Eugen,
Everything comes apart--somehow-- why don't you axk, whomever was tolding you ?? Ron Rich

[viperz]

Well, I took off the black metal piece on which record basket rotates, cleaned the bearing there, oiled it. It is not that. The selector shaft rubs slightly against the big selector clutch spring, since the shaft rotates inside the spring. The spring is very compressed, so I do not see a way to put some lube between the shaft and the spring. Even if I touch the spring with my finger during rotation, the squealing stops.

[Ron Rich]

Eugen,
What are you using for "lube" ? Ron Rich

[viperz]

I pushed some synthetic lithium grease into the spring while rotating the axle and the squealing stopped. Will report back tomorrow if it comes back.

[viperz]

Added a little more lube to the spring this morning, so far so good.
Reassembled the record carousel - had to soak top metal ring in vinegar for hours, then clean it with steel wool pads, since it was quite corroded.

Missed out on a chance to buy new light diffusers for the buttons for $80 USD+shipping (someone made 10 sets, they all sold very fast). Had to file out and glue new corners to the diffuser for bolt holes. Worst part is that some liquid got embedded into the diffuser. I tried polishing it with polishing wheel and multiple Novus polishing compounds. The big spot is still there, just well polished on top lol.

Will start reassembling keyboard assembly tonight and tomorrow. Will also give me a chance to see where Ron recommended to add the fishpaper. The amount of time it took me to clean all contacts on the selector keyboard assembly for every number and button, and every open/close contact... Every contact was pitch black, now they're nice and shiny.
Also cleaned old grease and relube moving parts of contacts. Lucky me the contact that was stuck now opens half a millimeter, just like its counterpart on the other side, so I did not have to adjust it.

I am really hoping to eventually connect all pieces in the shop, except for lights and speakers (use one external 8-Ohm speaker instead), and make it all work like that... Then move onto the cabinet cleaning and glass parts replacement there later in the spring.

[viperz]

I found old fish paper behind C-D buttons. It is still there!

[Ron Rich]

Hi Eugen,
Well, add it behind A & B too !!
Ron Rich