The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

De Soto Frank wrote:
My biggest criticisms are with the design of the tone-arm vertical joint (air-leaks) and the horn design... sounds "puny" compared to a Victor or Columbia, but maybe mine has some issues I haven't discovered yet.

It isn't just your machine - that arm is the weak point of the design. I've even replaced the soundbox with a Victrola #2 (which fits neatly) and a Meltrope, with little improvement. For some reason though it does sound a bit better with my vertical cut discs.

I wonder if it's possible to seal that up any, with a felt ring or such ?

De Soto Frank wrote:I wonder if it's possible to seal that up any, with a felt ring or such ?

Perhaps, but then you make the motion stiff. There are some machines that are mostly for looks.

Oddly enough my Cheney has a similarly large air leak but the sound quality is much better.

If I find a spare tone-arm, I might experiment...

I've always really liked the Silvertone tonearm design. I've thought of the front joint as a small horn. Such as when the volume control is all the way pulled out, it still allows the sound to escape without it sounding muffled.

Wow Frank gave me some good resources to find out about a model I restored. Same here..no markings except 'Silvertone'.

The top looks like a Columbia Type E-5 that I had.

It seems like nothing can match the Victor and Columbia tone arm designs. Most of the independent brands tend to have air leaks in the arms. I guess you could seal with Vaseline.