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The Talking Machine World, New York, December, 1928
FROM the unheard sigh of a butterfly's wing to the roar of a great city, back of every sound there must be power. For portable phonographs the practical source of power is the spring motor.
Producing correct power for any phonograph is a hard job — much harder than a big clock spring has. On top of pushing its own gear train and governor and the turn table, the phonograph motor's spring has to pull records having every degree of drag, or needle resistance. And the speed must be uniform.
The range of drag extends all the way from the mildest indifference to the sternest opposition. This is inseparable from the full enjoyment of phonograph music.
It helps the spring if the reproducer, or sound box, happens to be light. Generally it isn't.
Also, it is an aid if whoever winds the
crank keeps the spring tension medium tight. It seldom is done.
To perform so perfectly, the magically powerful ribbon of steel coiled in the spring barrel of a successful motor must have the equivalent of the fighting spirit, or mettle, of a racehorse. Besides, this splendid energy must be perfectly controlled.
Supplying this control is another hard job. Especially because all coiled springs unwind in "jumps." Remember that at the needle the speed must be uniform. Consider the exceptional life, or mettle, required in the spring.
For the best performance of the phonograph there must be perfect co-ordination in the motor. The gear train and governor must serve that high-strung, vital power source, their spring, as the racehorse is served by his finely made harness — even down to the precise weighting of his dainty shoes.