[Enviroguy]

Does anyone have a list of original Norton spring sizes for an Aristocrat tenor? I would really appreciate it if you would list them. Between my poor eyesight and cheap calipers, I doubt I can get anywhere near right with my own measurements.

I have a chance to replace a few of them that have lost their gold-plating and I really need to know the sizes. Again, I would really appreciate this. :bluewink:

 

[Enviroguy]

I'd sure like some help on this. Surely somebody has got a list of these spring sizes.

 

[SuperMadHatter]

Where's Juan when you need him?

 

[Enviroguy]

Where's Juan when you need him?

Help Juan. Help! :bluewink:

 

[jicaino]

Sorry guys I've been away with a very busy end of the working year.

I don't have a list of original norton springs sizing, wich ones are you trying to replace?

 

[Enviroguy]

Sorry guys I've been away with a very busy end of the working year.

I don't have a list of original norton springs sizing, wich ones are you trying to replace?

I have the chance to buy from someone with a large assortment. I'd like to replace as many as I can. My keywork functions great right now, but some of my springs have little or no gold left and others had to be bent to get enough tension.

 

[jicaino]

so buy them all... If you're on nortons, there's not enough replacements to be had out there when you need them. I have all my bueschers with bushings and regular blue needle springs... I hate nortons with all my guts :mrgreen:

 

[Dog Pants]

Juan,

Do you get the Ferree's bushings? Don't they also supply the Norton springs?

I'm in the process of overhauling my 270xxx Aristocrat Alto. It's all original so I was going to try to get the Norton springs from Ferree's. Would the bushings and blue needle springs be a better long term option? Would it change the feel of the horn noticeably?

DP

 

[Oric Muso]

Ferree's do supply the Nortons. (We get them via Windcraft here in the UK). They aren't gold any more though.
Sizes are limited i.e there's only 5 or so, so it should be fairly easy to tell which you need.

 

[Gordon (NZ)]

That gold finish didn't last well anyway, and if it was real gold, then it probably assisted destruction of the steel by galvanic corrosion.

I regard Norton springs as a novel idea that was nowhere near good enough to be perpetuated by any manufacturer. One has to ask, why do it? The alternative is excellent.

... others had to be bent to get enough tension.

Nothing wrong with that.

If you want long-term, then you don't want something that rusts. IMO, if you want long term, then Kraus stainless steel springs should be considered... an alloy that behaves the same as blued steel. (And that does not mean the sub-standard Ferree stainless steel.)

 

[thejudge]

http://www.ferreestools.com/Cat_page131.htm

The Ferree's catalog lists them. Only problem for me is the catalog page above doesn't say which size is for which horn. I'm guessing that the wire gauge needed depends on whether it's an alto, tenor, bari, etc.
I suppose I'll call them Monday A.M. and ask them what's the whatzee.....

 

[paulwl]

I would think that removing Nortons would lower the resale value of a Crat or Top Hat. Removing snaps certainly does.

All my Crats have Nortons except the curved soprano, which never did.