The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I found that tutorial the other day. Looks really helpful! Thanks for posting the link.

I just got done scraping out the clay... it was in fact clay. The little covers are missing on both sides of the reproducer. I wonder if it had them originally as the holes are covered over when the larger brass cover with felt inserts is screwed over top of the reproducer. I assume that cover takes the place of the little ones that some Orthophonics have. I discovered that there were only 5 ball bearings left on one side of the unit... none on the other side. I guess that's part of the sound problem!

daverob wrote:Hmm. The chapter on reproducers in my Reiss has a fair amount of stuff on orthophonics if you already own it. It is, by no means, exhaustive or comprehensive... But a fair place to start, IMHO.

I checked my copy and found nothing. Are you sure we're talking about the same book? "the Compleat Talking Machine" by Eric Reiss, published by Vestal Press? Heck, when Reiss was writing the book back in '86 no "serious collectors" bothered with the Orthophonic era stuff, or so I was told by the "serious collectors" who were telling me not to bother with the Orthophonic era stuff. After all they are mere inside hirn machines, and big ones at that!

I remember those days when inside horn machines were shunned and pushed aside. That was back when I first started collecting records. I got my internal horn machines in the early/mid 90s for next to nothing. My VV-VI has loud, superior sound quality with it's Exhibition reproducer. It's still one of the best machines I've ever heard.

Edisonh19 wrote:I found that tutorial the other day. Looks really helpful! Thanks for posting the link.

I just got done scraping out the clay... it was in fact clay. The little covers are missing on both sides of the reproducer. I wonder if it had them originally as the holes are covered over when the larger brass cover with felt inserts is screwed over top of the reproducer. I assume that cover takes the place of the little ones that some Orthophonics have. I discovered that there were only 5 ball bearings left on one side of the unit... none on the other side. I guess that's part of the sound problem!

Hmph... sounds like someone was in there before you...


If you don't want to go the whole complete tear-down route that Mica Monster outlines, you can carefully rebuild the bearing assemblies w/o opening up the back, etc.

The portable OSB (Orthophonic Sound Box) is based on the standard pot-metal OSB from the "indoor" machines. Victor added the secondary front cover with the felt muffler to cut-down on the hiss and high-frequency blasting that might be present. No need for this on the big machines, as closing the lid while playing achieves the same result.

If you remove the muffler-cover, you will find a standard pot-metal OSB front. Down on the bearing-block for the needle-bar, you will see the little screw-holes that would be for the tear-drop covers on applications for indoor machines, but they are not tapped (threaded) when used for the portables.

So, five balls on one side, and none on the other ? That's a recipe for rattle & buzz !


Well, for starters, you'll need a full complement of bearing-balls, eight per side.

About 15 years ago, I purchased an Orthophonic Rebuild Kit from APSCO, which contained a new set of 20 balls in a gelatin capsule, and about two inches of what looks like 7/32" windshield-washer tubing. I just used it this February, rebuilding the OSB from my great-grandmother's 8-12.

Personally, I feel that the OSB's that use the rubber cushions on the bearings need a washer between the rubber and the bearing-balls, otherwise, the rubber will push-into, and in-between the balls, "grabbing them", and preventing them from rotating.

I have not looked for a source for the washers yet, but need them for a few other OSB rebuilds.

If memory serves me correctly, I cut "donuts" of the rubber tubing about 5/32" long ( shade under 3/16"), and started there. I did have to shave the ends down slightly, as they were too long at first.

Getting the balls situated in the races w/o having them drop into the center of the bearing block is the most vexing part of the project. No caffeine that day ! Some sticky grease inside the race will help "hold" them.


Regarding the clay: the other year, I purchased a nice-looking nickel-plated pot-metal OSB on e-bay. No cracks, everything looked good, and it even played okay. When I was going through all my OSB's back in February, opening the bearing caps, etc, I discovered that this particular one had nifty pinkish-red rubber bearing cushions, and.... no bearing balls.

Someone apparently got tired of playing with those tiny balls and cut chunks of pencil eraser and stuck them in there !

I suppose the clay in mine sort of took the place of the ball bearings, allowing slight movement of the needle bar. I've called around trying to locate 1/16 ball bearings. The smallest I've located are 5/32. Looks like I'll have to wait to order them. The needle bar pivot (I think I have the right name for it) doesn't seem to be centered in the bearing cup openings. Will the bearings press that into the correct location? Or is this a typical off-center spacing? I wonder if the reproducer was slammed down hard at some point, causing the needle bar to be forced upward. The diaphragm appears to be uninjured and the connection between the "spider" and the diaphragm appears to be solid. So, mostly looks like I'm up against replacing the missing bearings and figuring out what I'm going to do with washers and rubber dampers. The other issue will be the mounting flange. I've been working with a silicone based glue to re-inforce the original rubber on the mounting flange, rather than replacing it. The connection is much more solid than it was, but still not quite where I want it.

Here's a source for the bearing balls:


http://www.ebay.com/itm/291085911882?_t ... EBIDX%3AIT

Thanks! I found someone who was selling a kit that included the bearings and rubber washers. I'm wondering if they will fit in there properly, given how off-centered the needle bar is inside the bearing cup. I attached a photo to show what I'm talking about.

I'm pretty excited about the results of my tinkering so far today. This is a different record. I chose it because of its range of instruments... highs, lows, and a vocal to boot. I think I'm getting closer! Bear in mind, this is still sans bearings. I stuffed the bearing cups with... *gasp* felt, and added an additional felt pad between the brass outer cover and the reproducer body to reduce the vibration between the two. If anyone wants to give me some feedback on the sound, I'd appreciate it!

Edisonh19 wrote:Thanks! I found someone who was selling a kit that included the bearings and rubber washers. I'm wondering if they will fit in there properly, given how off-centered the needle bar is inside the bearing cup. I attached a photo to show what I'm talking about.

You can gently ease the needle-bar pivot towards the center of the race with a small screw-driver. The needle-bar where it attaches to the spider has some flex to it.

Thanks! I'm a little concerned about putting any pressure on the spider and the connection between the needle bar and the spider. The little "forks" that connect the needle bar to the spider look pretty fragile... not sure they would take much flexing.