The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

The Gem B does not have a set screw to adjust the half nut. If that's the problem... Loosen the screw that attaches the half nut bar to the carriage. Loosen the screw at each end of the half nut. Move the carriage to the right end of the mandrel. With the carriage down in the playing position, hold the half nut against the feed screw and tighten the screws. Try playing a cylinder. If the half nut is still not adjusted properly you must gently bend the half nut bar. The key word is "gentle".

If the upper works come to a stop and the spring motor continues to run, the problem is with the belt.

Good luck and report back! Jerry Blais

Be very careful bending the half nut. I snapped one in half like a piece of glass once. They are super brittle. I like to use shims to adjust them now. Depending on where you place the shim, you can adjust the nut closer or further from the feed screw.

I had a Standard that had tracking issues and found that it was caused by the link between the reproducer diaphragm and stylus was miss-adjusted. The stylus would not drop down far enough to put enough pressure on the cylinder to play with the horn attached. It played fine with the horn removed. Adjusting the link cured the problem.

The use of a shim is very good advice. Jerry B.

Great information, thank you all very much. I am going to look into it as soon as I get home. I will report back tonight!

T

GOT IT!!!!! Y'all were spot on. I took the carriage off, loosened the half nut, put a small piece of cut belt (spacer) between the half nut and the bracket/metal that the half nut is screwed to. It did not move it out much but it was enough. It plays like a champ!

Thank you all! My little ones were dancing around the living room to some Billy Murray.

T

Glad it worked. Jerry

Thank you all again.

T