The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

donniej wrote:Wyatt Markus is excellent at repairing them, even pot metal ones that have "issues". I just sent him one last week, which will be the third reproducer of mine that he's rebuilt.

How much does it cost? I have about 3 of them that need Rebuilding... (BTW love his belting material. I finally made a belt for my Home Model B that i'm satisfied with!)

AmberolaAndy wrote:

audiophile102 wrote:

travisgreyfox wrote:I wonder if one day we will have totally new (reproduction) orthophonic reproducers. It seems there would be a market if someone would start making them.

I think there would be a market especially if the reproduction sounded much better. I purchased a new and improved True Tone diaphragm for my Edison A250 and I would not consider returning to the original diaphragm. The prices for original brass orthophonic reproducers represents a pretty high price point for a quality reproduction. I freely acknowledge my ignorance regarding the manufacturing process of something so complicated, but I like to dream big.

How does one acquire a True Tone Diaphragm? Are they being sold on eBay or do I have to PM the maker and ask for one? I kinda want to rebuild an Edison DD reproducer but I’m not too confident because there are no thorough step by step videos explaining the rebuilding process unlike Victrola Exhibition and No2 and Edison Model C and H reproducers. And yes a new reproduction orthophonic would be awesome! Maybe they can repurpose parts from cracking pot metal reproducers to make new ones.


The True Tone Diaphragm is only made and sold by our own Larryh. Send him a PM. http://forum.talkingmachine.info/member ... ofile&u=83

audiophile102 wrote: The True Tone Diaphragm is only made and sold by our own Larryh. Send him a PM. http://forum.talkingmachine.info/member ... ofile&u=83

Ok! I’ll remember that the next time I have money! After watching Dyslexic Genius Hurt’s videos I’m now confident I can rebuild a DD reproducer and My Diamond B since it’s basically a smaller DD reproducer! (But It also needs a new stylus...)

Now my Orthophonics... I think I’ll leave those to the pros...

AmberolaAndy wrote:

donniej wrote: How much does it cost? I have about 3 of them that need Rebuilding... (BTW love his belting material. I finally made a belt for my Home Model B that i'm satisfied with!)

Not to be evasive, but it depends on what it needs. Mine was swollen, the diaphragm was punctured and bearings were missing. He repaired it for about what a working one on Ebay might sell for, but his rebuilt one will work great.

donniej wrote: Not to be evasive, but it depends on what it needs. Mine was swollen, the diaphragm was punctured and bearings were missing. He repaired it for about what a working one on Ebay might sell for, but his rebuilt one will work great.

The ones I have probably just need gaskets and there are some tiny cracks on one but they’re not too bad. I have more ortho soundboxes than I do machines. Just my 8-4 and my 2-55. (Unfortunately the lid catch and record holder is broken on the 2-55. Thanks to people who ship machines with the records still inside the holder. I’m still salty about that a year later. probably the only time I’ve ever given someone negative feedback on eBay lol. Ok enough of my off topic ranting!. )

Here are pictures of my replacement orthophonic reproducer. It sounds great! Check out the You Tube Video to hear it play.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uPqPGuPxw4[/youtube]

It seems to me that the back rubber collar is a bit dead and cracked? If you try a new rubber collar, you'll notice still a great sound improvement. That cracked rubber is no more softly compliant, and air may escape also through it. You can try to find a new repro, or try one of those red rubber collars made for the Meltrope soundboxes by chunny in TMF. Those are very good, and there are several models. One of them fits an orthophonic/HMV5/5A/5B soundbox. It has no brass insert, but you don't need it, and the absence of it is also an advantage, for there's neither limit pin, so you can continuously adjust the zenith angle of the soundbox, vertical angle of the needle, as much as you want. I'm using one of those for my HMV194 with great results, and also another for the HMVno4 soundbox (same outer diameter, narrower tonearm).

I had a potmetal orthophonic reproducer that had similar issues to yours rebuilt by Shenandoah Antique Restoration and it sounds fantastic. I think all they used from my old one was the needle bar and bearing covers along with the diaphragm; everything else is new. The potmetal was in too bad of shape to re-use it.

here is a link:

http://www.shenandoahrestoration.com/motor.html