Any info on this Silvertone out there

[estott]

My biggest criticisms are with the design of the tone-arm vertical joint (air-leaks) and the horn design... sounds "puny" compared to a Victor or Columbia, but maybe mine has some issues I haven't discovered yet.

It isn't just your machine - that arm is the weak point of the design. I've even replaced the soundbox with a Victrola #2 (which fits neatly) and a Meltrope, with little improvement. For some reason though it does sound a bit better with my vertical cut discs.

[De Soto Frank]

I wonder if it's possible to seal that up any, with a felt ring or such ?

[estott]

I wonder if it's possible to seal that up any, with a felt ring or such ?

Perhaps, but then you make the motion stiff. There are some machines that are mostly for looks.

Oddly enough my Cheney has a similarly large air leak but the sound quality is much better.

[De Soto Frank]

If I find a spare tone-arm, I might experiment...

[Benjamin_L]

I've always really liked the Silvertone tonearm design. I've thought of the front joint as a small horn. Such as when the volume control is all the way pulled out, it still allows the sound to escape without it sounding muffled.

[a12548]

Wow Frank gave me some good resources to find out about a model I restored. Same here..no markings except 'Silvertone'.

[Victrolacollector]

The top looks like a Columbia Type E-5 that I had.

[Victrolacollector]

It seems like nothing can match the Victor and Columbia tone arm designs. Most of the independent brands tend to have air leaks in the arms. I guess you could seal with Vaseline.