Victrola Horn Caulking

Share your phonograph repair & restoration techniques here
User avatar
OrthoSean
Victor V
Posts: 2912
Joined: Thu Jan 08, 2009 1:33 pm
Location: Near NY's Capital

Re: Victrola Horn Caulking

Post by OrthoSean »

Plumber's grease can be had at any hardware store, I get mine at the local Ace Hardware. I don't really know the difference between it and other types, it was recommended to me years ago for tonearm joints and I've never used anything else.

Sean

HisMastersVoice
Auxetophone
Posts: 2587
Joined: Wed Jan 14, 2009 5:01 am

Re: Victrola Horn Caulking

Post by HisMastersVoice »

What I can tell you is that plumber's grease is usually silicone based and does not melt like normal grease. Beyond that I don't know what properties it possesses that makes it superior or inferior to petroleum based grease. I've used Vaseline before and it worked fine. I think one of my friends used to be an industrial lubrication engineer, I just have to remember which one so I can ask.... :?

User avatar
AZ*
Victor IV
Posts: 1143
Joined: Thu Jan 15, 2009 8:51 pm
Location: USA

Re: Victrola Horn Caulking

Post by AZ* »

I have caulked and/or sealed a number of horns and joints over the years. In each case, it usually made a significant difference.

Regarding zero's original question, I did use a clay rope-type caulk - I don't remember the brand - on my Columbia 800 Viva Tonal machine some years ago. It made a HUGE difference.
Best regards ... AZ*

User avatar
Henry
Victor V
Posts: 2624
Joined: Thu Jan 08, 2009 11:01 am
Location: Allentown, Pennsylvania

Re: Victrola Horn Caulking

Post by Henry »

AZ* wrote: I did use a clay rope-type caulk - I don't remember the brand.. ..
"Mortite" is one brand that I'm familiar with.

User avatar
CharliePhono
Victor III
Posts: 782
Joined: Fri Sep 30, 2016 2:41 pm
Personal Text: "The kerosene record player is not a very efficient device." ~Frank Zappa
Location: North Fork, CA

Re: Victrola Horn Caulking

Post by CharliePhono »

The brutal heat and nearby fires finally abated enough for me to get at my newly acquired 4-7. Serviced the motor yesterday and (you guys and gals know how it is) just *had* to hear it in operation before phase 2 of the restore/cleanup. MM rebuilt the soundbox and I went through several records last night and was essentially pleased with the reproduction, but knew it could sound better. Thus, just finished silicone caulking and coating the horn with the glycerin/denatured alcohol mix. I do expect an improvement in the sound, much as I experienced after servicing the horn in the 4-3.

It anyone knows how to completely extricate the horn from the cabinet without taking the stack off to which the tone arm connects, I'd appreciate knowing. I know forum member Oceangoer had his completely out, but deuce if I know how he did it. Perhaps he'll see this and weigh in. At any rate, I'll report back on the audio quality after all is reassembled.

Cheers!
Attachments
IMG_0021.JPG

EarlH
Victor III
Posts: 816
Joined: Thu Sep 25, 2014 4:25 pm
Location: North Central Iowa

Re: Victrola Horn Caulking

Post by EarlH »

You have to remove the part that connects it up to the tone arm. He must have put it back on after he got it out of the cabinet. Those things are pot metal and are sometimes quite fragile.

User avatar
CharliePhono
Victor III
Posts: 782
Joined: Fri Sep 30, 2016 2:41 pm
Personal Text: "The kerosene record player is not a very efficient device." ~Frank Zappa
Location: North Fork, CA

Re: Victrola Horn Caulking

Post by CharliePhono »

EarlH wrote:You have to remove the part that connects it up to the tone arm. He must have put it back on after he got it out of the cabinet. Those things are pot metal and are sometimes quite fragile.
Glad I didn't remove it. It actually was not necessary to completely remove the horn to baste the inside with the glop. I suppose one would argue that the outside of the horn case should have been glopped, too, but I'm a big believer in the "good enough" theory to avoid busting something I shouldn't. I didn't see any metal on the part I'm calling (for lack of a better term) the stack on the right upper corner of the horn which attaches to the tone arm. It had a cork gasket on the top and appeared to be composed of wood. The machine sounded good last night, but I'm thinking it may sound even better today, since the concoction has likely dried and hopefully slightly swollen the wood.

Thanks, Earl.

Post Reply