Posting this question for a friend who hasn't yet entered the Internet age...

At the recent Bound Brook phono/music show, my buddy bought a beautiful
restored Regina Model 50, 15.5"disk music box.  It's a serpentine case,
double comb, & short bedplate, and is definitely the best-sounding
one I've ever heard...  by a longshot.

The question involves the on/off/stop lever.  When you go to play the
box the first time (after not playing it for a time) the motor often
won't start unless the main spoked drive gear (the one that engages the
holes in the edge of the disks) is jiggled back and forth a few times.
Once it starts, it plays fine, and with succeeding disks this problem
will (usually) not occur.  The motor runs extremely quiet.  When you push
the start lever to the right to start the box, however, I've noticed
that you really need to hold it all the way to the right (and hold it
there for a second) to start the motor.

Can any of you music box specialists suggest what might be causing
this? As I said, from the look & sound of it, the machine has been
totally gone over, cleaned, etc.  We were wondering if the problem might
simply be a need for some oil on the governor or something
similar...  but we're hesitant to open up the bedplate to check the
motor.  Or, is this a problem with something worn or gummed up?

Any suggestions are appreciated...  I'm a novice at music
boxes...  phonographs are where my knowledge generally lies!

Jim Canavan(CYBRFLASH@aol.com)