Victor II: Need help diagnosing too-tall platter.

[WickedMessenger]

This humpback Victor II has a puzzling problem and I'm hoping someone on the Forum can help me diagnose what's wrong. First of all, it is very clear that the phonograph was in the hands of an enterprising Mr. Fixit who never let not having the right parts stop him from getting the thing to operate. Thus far I've had to replace the governor assembly from the butchered, Frankenstein governor that was apparently home made, and rebuild the reproducer, which was assembled with random o-rings, a home-made rear flange and phillips-head screws. Anyway, the turntable sits about a half inch above the brake and I'd like to get it down to the right height so I can use the brake. I either have the wrong platter, the wrong spindle shaft, or both. Here are photos of the relevant parts and we'll go from there. Any help is greatly appreciated.

[fmblizz]

what is the serial no. of this machine??

The Victor Data Book will tell you weather it should have a cast turntable or pressed steel..

blizz

[WickedMessenger]

The serial number is 33145.

[fmblizz]

According to the Victor Data Book the only single spring motor supplied on the Victor II with the fluted corner columns was the Vic II, type M. Some time during it's run of 4 years they switched from a 10" cast iron turntable and went to a 10" pressed steel.

The earlier Victor II motors had an 8" cast turntable with a Bevel drive gear instead of the Spiral Double cut that your motor has.

My money is on you replacing the cast with the pressed steel which are much more comon to get. If the spindle was changed at some point, then that another issue but the book definately states that during the production of your machine there was a switch to pressed steel turntables.

Blizz

[fmblizz]

Can't tell from your pictures but does the tip of the spindle stick up through the turntable??
It does not look like it...

blizz

[WickedMessenger]

I'm not sure it's that simple. Here's a pic of a record on the spindle without the turntable in place. The bottom of the record is sitting ¾" above the deck. This means the side of the platter would have to be almost that tall to hit the brake. The pictures I've seen of other machines look like the side of the platter is similar to the one I have. Perhaps someone with a Victor II will measure how high a record sits above the deck without the platter in place. That should tell me if I have the wrong shaft.

[fmblizz]

Check out this link

http://www.ebay.com/itm/VICTOR-II-HUMPB ... 1153510625?

Alot of pic's to compare.

The turntable definately looks different but from what I can see the spindle heigth looks about the same as yours.

My concern now is the machine in the listing has a serial number of 45251 which is later than yours but they still were using a cast turntable.
I would think that meant the switch to pressed steel was further on in the production.

Just muddying the waters some more.. sorry

Check out the picture in the listing.

blizz

[mattrx]

My Vic I has a "spacer" located under the brake barrel that raises the brake about 3mm. I cannot tell from your pictures whether this is present or not. Also, on my machine, the leather pads between the motor and motor board are badly compressed, thus raising the spindle and turntable. These two things may be affecting your turntable.

Hope it helps.

Matt

[phonogfp]

Victor II No.41998 also has a cast iron turntable. You seem to be missing the spacer below the brake, as seen in the photos below...

George P.

[fmblizz]

That would definately help but the motor board does not show evidence of ever having the spacer.
Many outside horn machines didn't have them.

Here is a pic of a recent Vic II sold on Ebay as a case in point.

Blizz