[ Ref. 010821 MMDigest, Seek Repair of Olympia Disc Music Box ]

I will preface my remarks by stating that I have no experience with
Olympia disc boxes, but I have brought a Regina back to life from the
dead.  In any event, there is much similarity in the mechanisms in
many regards.

I don't think you can correctly say "just a spring" when you're talking
about a disc musical box.  The mechanism there has a far more powerful
spring than a Victrola or cylinder box.  I have disassembled and
reassembled each type.  Could you describe what happens when you try
to wind it?

A likely break of a spring is at the very end where it is connected
to the case.  If this is the problem you can wind it a little with
friction before you hear the "kthunk" of the internal spring releasing
its pressure.  If the rest of the mechanism is working, there should
also be enough power in that much spring to turn the governor and drive
mechanism, or at least without a disc.  If there is no friction
whatsoever when you try to wind it, it could indicate a gear problem.
What happens when you try winding?

Have you identified the parts in the drive train?  If you put pressure
on the spring case to drive the mechanism, does it move freely?

Finally, if the problem is "just a spring" and you do not have
experience with this, I would not recommend handling the spring
yourself, but you can certainly remove the spring housing from the
mechanism and have a qualified person either give you a new attaching
hole and replace the spring or replace it as needed.

Without a spring winder, it took me all of my physical strength and
about three hours of time to re-install the spring in my Regina.  Under
operating conditions, it is first difficult to remove, but once it gets
started there is so much potential energy stored in that spring that it
can easily seriously injure someone.  Keep that in mind if you decide
to do it yourself.

If you check the MMD archives, you can find some good articles by
searching for subject key word "spring" or "spring-motor".  I think
also that there was a good description by Nancy Fratti with the subject
of "Cleaning the Music Box Mechanism".

Whatever you decide to do, good luck.  If you would like help, I'd be
glad to help in any way I can.

Regards,

Eliyahu Shahar