The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Ok! Wow I'd forgotten how good a gramophone can sound! I've been at it and replaced the back flange, put the vaseline in place, changed the rubber tubes , I still had some from the last time I tried this, adjusted the screws and made sure the mica isn't touching the sides and it sounds so much better, more volume, more bass, no rattling! Just great.

Thanks a lot guys for all the helpful advice! There's no way I would have done this without your help.

Glad to hear that you are enjoying the fruits of your good labor! I have always maintained that a well-restored Exhibition is capable of astonishing results, and you have confirmed my belief. As well, I rebuilt my Exhibition and it's so satisfying to hear the difference between "then-and-now".

BTW, I use soft-tone steel needles at least 95% of the time with my VV-XI (model G), with both acoustical and electrical recordings. I see by your photo that you use a fibre needle, and they have a special quality that I find very attractive.

Wouldn't William Penn be flabbergasted?!

Yes, actually this is quite recent - someone (under 20!)started making and selling them on ebay, I was the first client! Before that I used the same needles as you plus thorns from citrus trees, which give a nice sound except the volume is a bit on the low side. Good for records though! I googled William Penn but didn't get it... seems like an interesting bloke. Will read!

I just meant to suggest that if "Billy" Penn, as we call him in Pennsylvania, were to return to his namesake colony, he'd be astonished that we today can communicate across the waters about machines that he could never have imagined.

My wife keeps telling me not to be so cryptic and obscure, so I guess I had better start listening to her!

Sorry for the confusion!

Henry wrote:I just meant to suggest that if "Billy" Penn, as we call him in Pennsylvania, were to return to his namesake colony, he'd be astonished that we today can communicate across the waters about machines that he could never have imagined.

My wife keeps telling me not to be so cryptic and obscure, so I guess I had better start listening to her!

Sorry for the confusion!

My wife says the same to me! Oh, and I'll second the ebay bamboos! I'm hooked, for my nicest records that can handle them.

Hey Steve, I see your avatar is a nice view of the bandstand at Sunnybrook. I used to play an annual gig there with a small group from the Allentown Symphony. It was some Austrian commemoration, and the Austrian consul was there. Lots of Viennese waltzes a´la Strauss. We got a meal and free beer along with the $. Not bad!

Henry wrote:Hey Steve, I see your avatar is a nice view of the bandstand at Sunnybrook. I used to play an annual gig there with a small group from the Allentown Symphony. It was some Austrian commemoration, and the Austrian consul was there. Lots of Viennese waltzes a´la Strauss. We got a meal and free beer along with the $. Not bad!

Henry, yes, it is just down the road from me. Opened in 1931. All the bands played here. A favorite of Glenn Miller, he did his last U.S. show here in 1942, playing for 7,300 people. It's future was in jeopardy for awhile, but it seems like it will be ok now.

Beautiful, Steve---many thanks for the pictorial reminders! It's been years since I was down at Sunnybrook, but this brings back the memories vividly.

Seeing the organ console makes me curious:was there ever roller skating on that beautiful dance floor?

BTW, apologies to our British and European readers. I really hijacked this thread about rebuilding sound boxes.