The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

2 Christmases ago I got this red horn. At the time I didn't have a crane, so I used a crude homemade one as you can see

Martin

I received a birthday gift in May 2015 of a Sonora Invincible. It was my first antique phonograph and the moment I saw it I was smitten. I display it in my living room and enjoy it every day. Thanks goes to my wife and Roger Merenkov who sold it to us. Days later I bought an Edison A250 and much later I bought two Victor Victrola's. I will never forget that birthday present. Nor will I ever part with it.

Oh, and thanks to Epigramophone for teaching me a new word, (unsalubrious). Webster's had the definition. Now I have to find an excuse to use it in a sentence.

Years ago, the first time I met Ron Dethlefson in person - I had driven to Bakersfield from San Francisco to meet him at his house - he reached up on top of the refrigerator in their kitchen and presented me with a stack of about 25 unsleeved 78s.

It was a bunch of 20s dance music. Beat up records with intriguing titles. Here kid, the first syringe-full is on the house.

I didn’t have a disc phonograph yet. At the time, I was convinced that the Standard D for which I had cleverly traded my Home B would be the only phonograph I would ever need. Because of course it can play the 4-minute cylinders too.

But I had to hear those platters...so a Victrola 8-4 soon appeared. But then there were these fat Edison discs that it couldn’t play so a CC-32 popped into place... and on and on.

PeterF wrote:
But I had to hear those platters...so a Victrola 8-4 soon appeared. But then there were these fat Edison discs that it couldn’t play so a CC-32 popped into place... and on and on.

This is so true


I haven't received a machine as a gift before. But I'm sure someone at some point will

When I retired from Syracuse University last February, I was gifted a Columbia N Graphophone that still had its original gutta percha reproducer and stylus by a very fine lady , the wife of the gentleman that became my replacement. Even the little Bell-Tainter sticker is still inside the lid. Now all I need for it is a crank.

I was beyond words....and still am !!

Awhile back my Uncle asked me where he could get an old RCA Hi-Fi record player. I told him they were getting hard to find in good shape as they were nearing 60 years old but as luck would have it I was able to find this one on eBay for $100. When I picked it up I found it to be a little rougher than the pictures showed. It needed electronic as well as mechanical restoration. They are definitely a different horse to work on with the changer mechanism being quite delicate and complex. Somebody had been into it before me and bent a few things they shouldn't have so the tone arm was not letting down in the proper spot where it should have. It was a good thing I had another one to reference or it would have taken forever to figure it out! Aside from getting the bent parts back to where they should be, the mech required a good oiling and lubrication as well as replacing the main rubber turntable drive wheel. I also had to resurface the rubber turret tires using a tool post grinder on my lathe. I had Chuck Azzalina from Pa rebuild and service the amp. I also did a quick cosmetic job to the case and legs so it looks now pretty spiff! Plays like it did back when it was new! Uncle Bob is an old 50's greaser turning 75 with a collection of Bebop era 45's and LP's and a birthday coming up. Happy Birthday Uncle Bob!(Aunt Carol will enjoy it too!)

Reading this thread brings to mind this prior one:

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=17948&p=104510

Now, for an update:

Deacon Mack is still around, 6 years later, still working every day and very active in his church. I picked up a small repair job last week, for which he charged me a meager $75. I wrote out a check for $175, and asked him to give the extra $100 to a needy congregant. He about cried with joy. Before I could finish my drive home, I had a call from an older couple, thanking me profusely and wishing me every blessing imaginable. It really choked me up, and now Mack has replaced the Salvation Army in my checkbook for all future donations.

Raphael

Piggybacking on the charity theme:

Some of us are lucky enough to be able to hire people to help us, such as housekeepers/cleaners, yard maintenance people, and childcare providers. In our case, we were able to hire a woman to clean our house every couple of weeks, years ago when our first kid was born. She’s still with us, and although the pay isn’t much, it’s part of her income.

Well, she can’t come anymore, of course. But we’re still paying her, and if you’re in a similar situation and aren’t doing the same, please consider it. It probably makes more of a difference for them than it will for you, and helps assure they will be there to resume when we’re able.

A friend of my dads saw my collection about a year ago and wanted to get into it himself. He bought 3 small machines, and enjoyed them. But after a little bit he didn’t use them much and they just sat around. When he came back to visit Last week he gave me two of them. So here they are!

A Victrola VV-IV and an off-brand portable.

The Victrola was in super nice shape when I got it. I waxed the case, cleaned the motor, and rebuilt the reproducer with a new diaphragm and gaskets. For its size, its surprisingly loud The only remaining thing I need for it is the proper crank. The one that is on it now seems to be from a Victrola Floor model.

I just finished working on the portable tonight. I was hoping someone could help me identify who made the portable. I cleaned the case, polished the tone arm, and rebuilt the reproducer. I didn’t touch the motor, because it’s already really clean and silent. I just oiled it. The reproducer was certainly a challenge but I gave it a shot I didn’t have the right size gaskets, so I just cut some spare ones I had to fit this reproducer. That little aluminum diaphragm was so incredibly delicate But in the end I finally got it back together and it sounds pretty good! I also tried for the first time melting wax on the back of the diaphragm with a soldering iron, which seems to have worked well! The only thing left on this machine is a buzzing in the reproducer . But that’ll be an easy fix.

So here’s some pics of the machines and 2 videos!

Cheers,

David

^ Nice job David ^


For my last birthday my wife knew I was looking for a needle cup for one of my Victrolas. So she went on ebay and searched "Victrola needle cup" and bought the first one that popped up. It was Columbia silver cup, when I needed a gold Victrola one She also bought me a few packs of needles. Even though she paid too much for the totally wrong needle cup, I liked both of my gifts.



-Travis