The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Lah Ca wrote: Tue Apr 01, 2025 10:12 am It also seems that with your reproducer things are not quite in alignment.

The bottom of the needle-bar, itself, looks slightly bent. The whole thing should run parallel to the face of the sound box (reproducer), as is the case with the photo you (Lah Ca) posted. The need, held in this position, would dig into the record's groove at an angle.

Along this line, the sound box also seems to be positioned at a slight angle on the end of the tonearm, and it looks like it needs a new rubber throat gasket.

I'm not sure if the needle-bar can be straitened on this type of sound box. It would have to be detached from the diaphragm and completely removed from the face-plate, via the two locking screws, straitened out, and re-attached.

Along this line, I'm wondering about the condition of the aluminum diaphragm. Are there any dents, tears or gouges?

OrthoFan

If the reproducer is shot (crushed diaphragm, bent needle bar), it is not the end of the world.

Birch portables were made in large numbers I think.

Some may not have survived the end of The Gramophone Era because they were inexpensive machines, not highly desirable, and early collectors had a smorgasbord of gramophone delights to choose from. So nobody wanted them. Landfill fodder?

But there are enough of them still around. I recently saw one, very similar to yours, listed on Craigslist in Washington State for $30--good cosmetic condition--reported to be in good working order. In addition to machines, there should be parts available or donor machines.

You might be able to find a new elbow and reproducer or a parts machine with a dead motor and a totally bagged case.

It all looks to line up pretty well from what I can tell. Although having little experience, I'm not sure I would recognize what to look for in a replacement. I've tried moving the needle to the side and it was certainly in the wrong spot, was not hitting the groove at all. It does play fine, but skips after a few rotations. Maybe its the tone arm being too stiff. It moves freely, but only when pushed. I can't give it a shove and it moves further than me pushing it (like a normal turntable tone arm would do). Adding a few more shots in case anything looks wonky to the experienced folks here.

doctor_of_jazz wrote: Tue Apr 01, 2025 3:43 pm It all looks to line up pretty well from what I can tell.

Yes. It looks much better than in the screen shot from your video clip.

The mounting on the tone arm looks a little off still, however. How tightly does the reproducer sit on the end of the tone arm without the set screw tightened? If it is a bit wobbly or loose, you could try a couple of wraps of green painter's tape around the end of the tone arm as an experiment to see if you can get a tighter fit. The tape can easily be removed when you replace the throat gasket (if it needs to be done).

doctor_of_jazz wrote: Tue Apr 01, 2025 3:43 pm I've tried moving the needle to the side and it was certainly in the wrong spot, was not hitting the groove at all.

Please don't do this. The diaphragm is quite fragile. It is somewhat concerning that you were able to do it. You can remove the chrome plated protective cap for the diaphragm quite safely if you are careful--there are four screws (no force--patience and a drop of penetrating oil if needed) . Have a look at the diaphragm and how it is attached to the needle bar. If the needle bar has ripped loose from the diaphragm or torn it, we have a problem.

doctor_of_jazz wrote: Tue Apr 01, 2025 3:43 pm Maybe its the tone arm being too stiff. It moves freely, but only when pushed. I can't give it a shove and it moves further than me pushing it (like a normal turntable tone arm would do).

Maybe. It won't hurt to keep working on it. Repeated movement back and forth for the full length of its travel. Repeated very light lubrication if needed.

Here is what the diaphragm on my reproducer looks like. Interestingly the covering plate on mine has only three screws holding it on.

download/file.php?id=167522&mode=view

Here is what the reproducer looks like from the back before I replaced the throat gasket.

download/file.php?id=167521

Here is why your problems are not the end of the world.

There are at least three Birch portables on Ebay now. They all have some similarities to your machine.

This one is the pick of the lot at a $69.95 US Buy It Now price plus shipping. It may be identical your machine. It appears to be in good cosmetic condition and is advertised as working properly.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/205252396287?_ ... R9Sxi_a-ZQ

Thanks! Yes, I'm not too worried. The player was $30 with a bunch of records in a matching box. And I spent about $20 to get 100 needles and the sewing oil. Figured I'd try a bit more to see if I can get things working before exploring other options.

Wondering if there is a "best" or quality/popularity wise another brand/option I should be looking at. I see a bunch of Victrola, but am not looking for a large furniture piece, just something to have a little fun with.

To some extent, any properly functioning gramophone will be a thing of joy.

But if you are just getting started with the hobby and don't have a lot of space for a piece of furniture, portables are good way to go. Some of them can sound very good, and their portability lends them a versatility lacking in a cabinet that takes two or more people to move.

The peak of the gramophone era, especially for portables, was the late 1920s to the mid to late 1930s. Advancements were made with reproducers to enable the machines to play electrically recorded records which had much greater dynamic and frequency ranges than acoustically recorded ones. After this period, portables, with some exceptions, just became more and more poorly made in order to keep their costs down. Electrical machines were offering way too much competition.

So any good name-brand portable from the peak era will probably serve you well, provided it is all in good condition. My personal favourites are the HMV 102 models, but these are UK-made machines. In the US you will probably be better off looking for a Victor machine. The VV2-55 was a popular Victor machine. If you are looking for a Victor portable, look for one with an Orthophonic reproducer. With the major big name brands, it will be much easier to find parts and to get service for your machine.

Exactly what I was looking to find out. Thank you Lah Ca! Hoping to get mine working, but if not, I'll explore these options. Greatly appreciated!

doctor_of_jazz wrote: Wed Apr 02, 2025 4:31 pm Exactly what I was looking to find out. Thank you Lah Ca! Hoping to get mine working, but if not, I'll explore these options. Greatly appreciated!

Here are a few more options to consider, in addition to those named by La Cal --

http://myvintagetv.com/updatepages1/cha ... tables.htm

The amazing thing about the quality wind-up acoustic portable phonographs from the late 1920s/early 1930s is that, once restored, they sound more like an electrically amplified phonograph than an acoustic one. You hear a solid mid-range and more than just a hint of bass, depending on how the recording was equalized. Most of them are fitted with relatively long, exponentially tapered, air-tight horns--essential to quality sound reproduction.

Of all, the HMV 102 is probably the best engineered and most trouble-free. The Victor VV-2-55 rivals--if not exceeds--it in sound quality, but it is considerably heavier to lug around, and a PITA to service with all those tiny screws securing the motor board in place. But, as noted, HMV 102s are more commonly found in the UK market.

In the meantime, your little Birch portable should perform very nicely once you get the bugs out of it. Here's a similar RCA Victor portable--obviously restored--equipped with the same style horn/tonearm/reproducer as your Birch portable that gives you an impression of the potential sound quality -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcnnUpsAVRI