New Capehart Orchestrope 28G Demo on Youtube

[HisMastersVoice]

I could watch that thing play for hours...endlessly fascinating. Beautiful machine, great work!

[barnettrp21122]

What an impressive machine ! I am curious as to its history, and how much of it was still functional when you acquired it ?

I would expect that the electronics in the playback division probably needed some attention, but the mechanicals look like they would move a battleship... forever !

Thanks! I found this at an auction in New Holland, PA, back in January 2010. It was backed-up against a wall in the firehouse hall, and I was unable to inspect it closely. Good thing nothing was missing inside! When it came time to load it onto my truck, the over-zealous helpers hoisted it onto its back in the truckbed before I could say a word otherwise! Again, I was lucky none of the glass or tubes was broken.
The electronics needed a thorough rebuild by a good friend of mine. The cabinet needed attention and that was done elsewhere.
George Eppel rebuilt the horseshoe reproducer.
The changer had to be cleaned up and relubricated, and then fine-tuned over a period of a couple weeks on the workbench before going back in the cabinet.
There were several head-scratching moments trying to figure out the last bugs, but things seem to be working fine now.
This machine has a reputation for cracking the edges of the stacked records as they're held during playback by the record support brackets, especially if the records have been stored under damp conditions, but since final setup it hasn't broken or damaged any!
Bob

[larryh]

Bob that is amazing! I once had a regular home Capehart changer to play both sides of the records. I know absolutely nothing about electrical mechanical things and took it to a couple local shops in St. Louis. They all proclaimed after having it for months that it wasn't fixable.. When I ask a high school friend to help me load it and bring it home he suggested we drop it at his dads garage as he liked to tinker with electrical things. Long story short, within about a half hour of unloading it he had it playing like new.. So much for repair shops and proof that some people simply have a knack for this kind of work.. You obviously are one of those! It makes you almost wish computers were never invented the classic mechanical things were so amazing and think of how long they are lasting. As I recall the main issue was with the glass mercury switch not working correctly?

Larry

[celticguitar666]

I have a question about the pickup it looks a lot like the one in my Radiola Is yours a steel needle job? Just curious as how one would change the needle. All in all a great example of ingenuity and restoration It's great when it all comes together and works
Dwight

[barnettrp21122]

Bob that is amazing! I once had a regular home Capehart changer to play both sides of the records. I know absolutely nothing about electrical mechanical things and took it to a couple local shops in St. Louis. They all proclaimed after having it for months that it wasn't fixable.. When I ask a high school friend to help me load it and bring it home he suggested we drop it at his dads garage as he liked to tinker with electrical things. Long story short, within about a half hour of unloading it he had it playing like new.. So much for repair shops and proof that some people simply have a knack for this kind of work.. You obviously are one of those! It makes you almost wish computers were never invented the classic mechanical things were so amazing and think of how long they are lasting. As I recall the main issue was with the glass mercury switch not working correctly?

Larry

Thanks Larry!
Yes, if the mercury switch isn't toggling correctly you'll usually either have the changer running constantly or not at all!
Some of the setups on any of these Capehart changers, for either home or commercial use, can be very puzzling. If I've found an answer to any of my problems I can usually go back to the repair manuals where I'll find the same solution buried in technical talk I couldn't understand!
Best
Bob B.

[barnettrp21122]

I have a question about the pickup it looks a lot like the one in my Radiola Is yours a steel needle job? Just curious as how one would change the needle. All in all a great example of ingenuity and restoration It's great when it all comes together and works
Dwight

Hello Dwight:
The pickup's a regular horseshoe magnet type, probably nearly identical to your Radiola's. The Capehart manual suggests using a tungsten needle, but I've tried an Everplay needle and the pickup's just too harsh for it with it's fine wire point.
I've found that the Permo-point coin-op needle (found on Ebay) works very well, but I use only the early Victor electric discs on this, with their harder shellac makeup. WWII-era discs are too soft, and you'll get black dust on your fingers after one play. This doesn't happen with the earlier formulations. I still wouldn't play any treasured discs on this!
You're right about getting things running again. A half-year ago I was thinking it'd never be put back together and playing!
Bob

[miker2001]

SPECTACULAR!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Phonolair]

What a cool machine, it's amazing to watch. I've always enjoyed the mechanics of the phonographs and this is certainly up there with other early jukeboxes. After you got it up and working and all adjusted does it continue to run well or does it need to be readjusted and tweaked from time to time.

Best Regards, Larry

[barnettrp21122]

What a cool machine, it's amazing to watch. I've always enjoyed the mechanics of the phonographs and this is certainly up there with other early jukeboxes. After you got it up and working and all adjusted does it continue to run well or does it need to be readjusted and tweaked from time to time.

Best Regards, Larry

Thanks Larry!
This has been functioning for a couple months now, and has really not needed much attention. I had it on the workbench for quite awhile making small adjustments, and they seem to have stayed set. For awhile I'd always be close by when the records changed, but it hasn't mishandled any for the longest time.
Bob

[RAK402]

Brilliant!

I really enjoyed watching the video (and listening to the music).

Very professional and a fantastic restoration!