Help needed with mysterious Alba portable

[Curt A]

Actually, you could use a repro Victor record hold down, as pictured, if you don't want to make one. You would probably have to re-tap the threads to make it work on your machine.
You can buy one here:
https://www.phonographs.org/product/p-2 ... hold-down/

[twilson]

Welcome and don't worry about the thread being in the wrong section... who cares? There are much more important concerns...

As far as the threaded record holding rod, there was probably a hold down that looked like a threaded knurled nut with an attached washer. If you are handy, it would be easy to make if you can find some sort of brass knurled nut, which you would then drill and tap to the matching thread pitch of the existing rod... Then find a brass washer large enough to hold the records, drill it so it fits over the rod and then solder the nut and washer together... Or, find the appropriate size wing nut and a washer to fit and that would suffice. Improvising this hold down is not a problem, since not many people have seen an Alba or know what the hold down should lookk like. Good luck on your nice portable...

Some sort of nut and washer configuration it is then! And thank you very much for the link but I think putting something together myself will be more enjoyable. I’ll see what I can come up with.

So the vibe is that there’s not much chance of finding any information about this machine in the way of catalogues and advertisements? Is information on the models from these lesser known manufacturers just lost to time?

Thanks

[twilson]

And agreed, it's a really minor point about posting once or in which section, I didn't mean to be overbearing at all, hence the wink!

No worries! The wink put me greatly at ease and was appreciated.

[Orchorsol]

Just noticed this portable with similar record storage... https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GRAMOPHONE-P ... SwIc9e9iPr

[twilson]

Just noticed this portable with similar record storage... https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GRAMOPHONE-P ... SwIc9e9iPr

Thanks man, that picture is very helpful!

Does anyone know if the fact that it is very simple and rudimentary (no automatic brake and so on) could be an indication of its age? Or does it just simply mean that it was cheap as has already been suggested?

Also, is there anyway of dating a motor? It’s the only part of the machine that has any sort of serial number on. Though I presume these thorens motors were used for lots of different machines over possibly quite long periods of time?

Thanks,

[Phono48]

I wouldn't call it exactly "cheap". It's no better or worse than thousands of other portables made around the late twenties/early thirties, many of which didn't have automatic brakes. I think your Alba has been modified in some way because of the fact that the lid cannot be closed without taking the soundbox off, but exactly what has happened is a mystery! The Thorens motor were used in literally hundreds of gramophones over a long period, so it doesn't give any precise indication of age, other than as stated, late twenties / early thirties.

Barry

[soundgen]

here's a lid record storage fitting I found earlier today ! Not sure if they are all the same thread size though