George Stevens guys - What do you think of this older 230 machine?

[big_teee]

The eagle has landed.


I'll let you fellas know how it is when I get home and unpack the beast tonight.

We Need Photo's!!!
T

[ReWind]

We Need Photo's!!!
T

Oh, you can count on that. Video if it'll fire up!

[ReWind]

ok, here are some initial photos for Terry and anyone else interested: George Stevens 230 Coil Winder

I have LOTS of work ahead of me if I'm going to restore this. Though I don't think I'm going to fully restore it. There are many features on it that I just don't need and can neglect for now. Surprisingly, everything on it operates very smoothly from what I can tell. With a cleanup and re-lube it should be in decent shape. There are a few bent screws and the phenolic plate that holds the wire guide is cracked, but machine screws are easily found and I can craft a new guide plate out of acrylic easily enough. I think if I can get the gearing right, and figure out how to actuate the drive/traverse clutches, his will be suitable for pickup use. I don't think I can do anything larger than a Tele bridge bobbin on it without grinding away a bit of the traverse rail though. The bobbin clearance is minimal, but enough for any six string guitar bobbins.

[JGundry]

I think that machine has a lot of add on machined parts. I'm not familiar with this machine but if it is like other GEO Stevens machines the drive and traverse are locked together via two gears and one idler gear. I think there is an extension plate on the back of your machine where these gears would be? The traverse travel is set by the cam. Maybe this has been modified for a electronically controlled traverse? The electronic clutch is for the main drive break and slow start function I would guess. There is probably a large electronic control box that should be with this machine for the start and stop options.

The best Geo Stevens machines for pickup winding have the drive, traverse, idler gear combination with a traverse travel override knob. With these machines you can remove the idler gear and have a hand guided machine with stops set by the cam so you don't overshoot the bobbin. I'm pretty sure this is how Fralin does hand guiding.

[ReWind]

Yes, there's definitely some extra stuff added on - thought they might be "factory add-ons" by the look of how well it's done. Looks like a pneumatic control system. It can all come off though. Just socket screws holding it all on with steel plates. None of the extras are welded on. The gear drive is still in tact. The traverse functions, though the installed cam isn't correct for my bobbin height, of course. I sent the photos to George Stevens to see if I could get any other info. I'll also contact Dale and see what they say, since it seems to have been in operation with them. I think the electronic clutch should be pretty simple to operate once I figure out the pinout and voltage/current required to actuate it. The motor seems to be a single phase, but also reversible - hence the four pins. Pretty cool.

Why would one get a machine like this and bypass the automatic traverse? That's the whole point. Well, to me, at least. If I wanted a hand-guided machine with stops, I could use my lathe. ...or do you mean to manually override the automated traverse to adjust mid-wind? I don't know if I'm following you right on this part, Jon.

Like I said, plenty of work needed to get this running as a suitable bobbin winder, but I think it's definitely possible. Even if not, the best part is - for what I paid for this ,I could double my money at the scrap yard by weight and I'll definitely learn something with it.

[JGundry]

The advantage is it is super simple to just pull the idler gear and have a machine that does double duty as a gear driven or hand driven traverse.

[ReWind]

The advantage is it is super simple to just pull the idler gear and have a machine that does double duty as a gear driven or hand driven traverse.

Ah! I see. "Double duty" is what I was overlooking. Thanks.

Thanks for all the help, also. I definitively appreciate the input of those more experienced. You've got a number of various Stevens machines, right? Do you keep any in active duty or are you strictly using the Lessona/Gibson machines now?

[JGundry]

Right now I'm using the Leesona 102 and Slug 101 every day. I have a Stevens machine and a Coweco set up for some stuff I will be coming out with shortly. The Stevens machine is a 38 series model and a fair amount different than yours.

[ReWind]

Very cool. I say your P90 thread over at LPF a while back. I suspect you are talking about something entirely different though. I'll keep an eye out.

I'm hoping to have some time this weekend or next to start tearing down this old model 230 "battleship" and cleaning it up. Time is one thing I'm seriously short on these days.