Can anyone tell me how to fix this?

[erichammer]

Hi all,

Thanks for the add.

I just bought a Victrola VV-IX. I think something was jarred loose during shipping. I've contacted the shipper and am trying to get a discount for my troubles but meanwhile wanted to ask the experts if any of you know -- would this be a really difficult thing to fix or is it relatively easy? If it's something easy, anyone who can give me some pointers, I'd greatly appreciate it. It looks like the rod in the center somehow dislodged during shipping. There's a wheel shaped thing under the platter and I saw a loose screw. It also seems like the arm is blocked and won't move all the way over on top of the platter.

I've used record players in the past but never one this old and I don't want to screw something up.

Apparently, there's a place in Pittsburgh (I'm an hour drive from there) that repairs Victrolas so I could bring it there but if this is a simple fix, I'd rather not have to transport it each way and spend the money on it.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Oh and if anyone is familiar with Galaxie Electronics in Pittsburgh and knows if they are reliable, that would be great also.

For the record, I'm attaching a photo from the original listing showing the middle rod was there so I don't think it's missing pieces. Just got knocked loose during shipping.

Thank you again. Looking forward to learning more from everyone here.

[OrthoFan]

This will help you identify the basic parts found inside the Victrola's playing compartment --

Judging from your photos, it looks like the turntable simply came off its spindle and is now seated slightly wedged off-center alongside the spindle. (The turntable just sits in place on the center spindle, so if nothing was placed inside the playing compartment to secure it during shipping, it would easily pop off if the package were tilted or placed upside-down.) That round "thing" seated under the turntable is a used needle cup which will fit in a circular hole near the tonearm.

Try this:

Move the break lever, which is visible under the tonearm crook in your second photo, toward you in case it's pressing against the inside of the turntable. Try moving the tonearm to the right as far a possible, then pulling up on the turntable and if it's loose, move it slightly sideways and up and you should be able to remove it. Most likely the turntable's spindle is okay, since it's firmly attached to and is part of the motor, itself.

Once removed, insert the turntable back onto the turntable spindle, and pinching the spindle with your fingers, move the turntable around until it "catches" on the spindle's support post, which you will see once the turntable is removed.

PLEASE post back with the results.

OrthoFan

[DanP58]

Is that a needle cup under the turntable platter?

[Jmcmahan67]

Seeing is believing. We have pictures from two different angles, and that is definitely a needle cup turned on its side that needs to be removed. They should be able to just lift the platter off and take the needle cup out

[erichammer]

This will help you identify the basic parts found inside the Victrola's playing compartment --
vicviii04.jpg

Judging from your photos, it looks like the turntable simply came off its spindle and is now seated slightly wedged off-center alongside the spindle. (The turntable just sits in place on the center spindle, so if nothing was placed inside the playing compartment to secure it during shipping, it would easily pop off if the package were tilted or placed upside-down.) That round "thing" seated under the turntable is a used needle cup which will fit in a circular hole near the tonearm.

Try this:

Move the break lever, which is visible under the tonearm crook in your second photo, toward you in case it's pressing against the inside of the turntable. Try moving the tonearm to the right as far a possible, then pulling up on the turntable and if it's loose, move it slightly sideways and up and you should be able to remove it. Most likely the turntable's spindle is okay, since it's firmly attached to and is part of the motor, itself.

Once removed, insert the turntable back onto the turntable spindle, and pinching the spindle with your fingers, move the turntable around until it "catches" on the spindle's support post, which you will see once the turntable is removed.

PLEASE post back with the results.

OrthoFan

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. You probably saved me a long trip and a few hundred dollars to bring it to a place to get it fixed.

Now I have two more questions:

1. When I got the platter spinning it makes a kind of scraping sound as it's spinning. Is this normal? Did I put the platter on incorrectly?
2. What is the screwdriver like thing for in my second photo?
3. The items in the third photo came with it but I don't know what they're for. Any ideas? I mean, I'm guessing the brush like thing is meant to be used to clean it somehow but I haven't a clue what the other stuff is for.

Now I just have to go order a bunch of needles to be able to use it.

Thank you again. You are a lifesaver!

[MarkELynch]

It sounds like the brake is rubbing the underside of the turntable or the brake leather is missing. Lift the turntable off to investigate.

The wayward parts are a guitar thumb pick, a tea strainer, a Velcro strap and two screwdrivers, they are not part of your Victrola.

Mark

[drh]

Congrats on your first spring phono! The Victrola IX is no rarity, but it's a good, solid performer that with proper care should give you years and years of enjoyment.

A couple of points worth mentioning.

First, the Victrola is for playing shellac 78 RPM records, most appropriately those made before 1925 (the year recording went from the old horn-and-diaphragm acoustic method to electric recording with microphones and tube electronics). The one in your picture is much later. You *can* play such later records on your machine, but they may not sound very good, and it may cause them more wear than it would earlier ones. In either case, the important thing to remember is that the steel needles used in these machines are good for one play of one side only. Replace the needle with each new play. Do not play any vinyl record on the Victrola, including V-Discs from World War II and very late commercial releases.

Second, although you have the machine up and running now, it probably needs some routine maintenance. The sound box (as the diagram has it, but often also called the "reproducer") very likely needs rebuilding. It has rubber gaskets around the diaphragm, and they almost certainly will have hardened, yielding harsh sound that distorts on peaks. The diaphragm itself may also may have deteriorated with age. In addition, to avoid putting undue wear on the motor's gears and bearings and to ensure smooth operation, the motor probably needs to be cleaned and lubricated. To get an idea of what's involved in both processes, have a look at the YouTube channel of "Dyslexic Genius Hurt." He has a wealth of videos explaining what needs to be done and why for a variety of machine brands and models.

Speaking of YouTube, if you'd like to hear some records played on a Victrola IX that had been recently serviced, I put together a little video of mine, which you can access at the end of this article that I wrote about it: https://www.tnt-audio.com/vintage/army_ ... ers_e.html

Again, congratulations, and happy listening!

[Orchorsol]

It sounds like the brake is rubbing the underside of the turntable or the brake leather is missing. Lift the turntable off to investigate.

The quick fix MIGHT be as simple as tightening the large screw heads under the turntable (if they have worked loose, the motor will have dropped a little underneath, making the turntable correspondingly lower, hence scraping). Don't tighten them too much, just nip them up evenly for now. Later on, the rubber washers between the motor and the motorboard will probably need replacing.

[erichammer]

Congrats on your first spring phono! The Victrola IX is no rarity, but it's a good, solid performer that with proper care should give you years and years of enjoyment.

A couple of points worth mentioning.

First, the Victrola is for playing shellac 78 RPM records, most appropriately those made before 1925 (the year recording went from the old horn-and-diaphragm acoustic method to electric recording with microphones and tube electronics). The one in your picture is much later. You *can* play such later records on your machine, but they may not sound very good, and it may cause them more wear than it would earlier ones. In either case, the important thing to remember is that the steel needles used in these machines are good for one play of one side only. Replace the needle with each new play. Do not play any vinyl record on the Victrola, including V-Discs from World War II and very late commercial releases.

Second, although you have the machine up and running now, it probably needs some routine maintenance. The sound box (as the diagram has it, but often also called the "reproducer") very likely needs rebuilding. It has rubber gaskets around the diaphragm, and they almost certainly will have hardened, yielding harsh sound that distorts on peaks. The diaphragm itself may also may have deteriorated with age. In addition, to avoid putting undue wear on the motor's gears and bearings and to ensure smooth operation, the motor probably needs to be cleaned and lubricated. To get an idea of what's involved in both processes, have a look at the YouTube channel of "Dyslexic Genius Hurt." He has a wealth of videos explaining what needs to be done and why for a variety of machine brands and models.

Speaking of YouTube, if you'd like to hear some records played on a Victrola IX that had been recently serviced, I put together a little video of mine, which you can access at the end of this article that I wrote about it: https://www.tnt-audio.com/vintage/army_ ... ers_e.html

Again, congratulations, and happy listening!

Thank you. I actually just ordered 300 hard and 300 medium needles for the Victrola. I didn't know when I bought it that they need to be replaced after every play but I did find this out when I started Googling how to use it. Haven't tried to play anything yet. Oh and that record came with it but I also bought a set of 9 Victrola branded records to use with it. Looking forward to playing those and I assume those are the kind meant to be played on a machine like this. I don't plan to use it all the time either. Mostly just to show to guests as a special thing so I imagine the bundles of needles I bought will last for years to come.

This forum is a treasure trove of great information. Thanks so much for everything.