The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

marcapra wrote:I just had my tech rebuild my Orthophonic reproducer from the Credenza I bought a few months ago, but won't get the rest of the phonograph until the CAPS show in Buena Park, CA in August. He also had some trouble getting the ball bearings in. They kept falling out. I suggested he try holding them in place with a magnet. Worked! Hey, Mr. Grumpy, I never would have figured that you looked like that! Calm down a little will ya?

Marc,

I used some light grease... Sta-Lube graphite grease.


I'd love to know the production method at VTM - they had to have found an efficient and fool-proof technique...

I thought the pivot was magnetized, and that the magnetic force has simply worn-out after all these decades. I also use grease (even Vaseline will do) & leave it in there - seems to do no harm!

There seem to be several versions of the OSB, with subtle changes.

The early versions that employ the rubber cushions under the bearing covers seem to have a bronze or brass needle-bar journal, and the balls are not magnetized.

The later OSB, without the rubber cushions, no phase-plug, and tiny round holes in the spanner ring (instead of the previous slots), seem to have the steel needle-bar journal and magnetized ball-bearings.


This is based on my observations with six-or seven different OSBs.

I have yet to disassemble the OSB from my 2-55 or 7-11, so I can't speak for those units. Yet.


I thought about Vaseline, but then I wondered how quickly it would dry-out ? Maybe not even in my lifetime now...

De Soto Frank wrote:I thought about Vaseline, but then I wondered how quickly it would dry-out ? Maybe not even in my lifetime now...

Try A+D Ointment, OC at the drugstore. It's vaseline and lanolin, and won't dry out. I used it for years on my trombone tuning slides and never had one get stuck using this stuff!

Good for chapped lips, too!