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Re: Meltrope 3c Sound-box ?
Posted: Sat Feb 21, 2026 10:02 am
by jamiegramo
Re: Meltrope 3c Sound-box ?
Posted: Sat Feb 21, 2026 11:30 am
by emgcr
Steve wrote: Sat Feb 21, 2026 9:13 am
If so, what does a Meltrope II look like? A picture of each style would be handy.
Here you are Steve. The Meltrope No.1 has a longer stylus bar and the platform is not cut into the main circular body of the sound chamber. The difference in compression ring diameters is readily seen. The overall outside diameter of both boxes is roughly the same.
It is tragic that all the previous posts have been lost as this subject has been studied extensively, written about with many photographs and published in full detail some years back. I do have copies on my computer but, having tried for half an hour, am not able to upload again, sadly.
Re: Meltrope 3c Sound-box ?
Posted: Sat Feb 21, 2026 12:48 pm
by poodling around
Steve wrote: Sat Feb 21, 2026 9:13 am
All this Meltrope talk has made me examine a "III" which I acquired recently with some other parts, and yes, the compression ring is completely seized on my example too!
As Carlos points out the stylus bar suspension is a cheap and nasty design, prone to failure. None of this endears the Meltrope soundbox to me. I do have a number of others, also confusingly called "III" with a different fascia. These work okay but the best one of the lot by far is the design that does not rely on the fascia to suspend the stylus bar. My fascia on this one is a bluey grey gunmetal finish. Is that a Meltrope I?
If so, what does a Meltrope II look like? A picture of each style would be handy.
Of course, not all Meltrope II sound-boxes had the Meltrope name on the front (or any-where else) and also had different patent numbers on the reverse, this one is part of my 'quite a collection' of Meltrope soundboxes.
Re: Meltrope 3c Sound-box ?
Posted: Sat Feb 21, 2026 1:21 pm
by Orchorsol
Steve wrote: Sat Feb 21, 2026 9:13 am
All this Meltrope talk has made me examine a "III" which I acquired recently with some other parts, and yes, the compression ring is completely seized on my example too!
It might be worth persevering Steve. Recently I had one with a seized compression ring - after digging out all the rubber remains thoroughly, I soaked the threads in an expensive penetrating oil for several weeks, and put it in the freezer for a few hours a couple of times. With a plumber's wrench and thick leather to grip, it finally gave way. Now it's completely rebuilt and sounding great.
Re: Meltrope 3c Sound-box ?
Posted: Sat Feb 21, 2026 3:32 pm
by poodling around
Very good link indeed.
I wonder if there was a Meltrope 'B' sound-box as there seems to have been an 'a' and 'c' ?
Re: Meltrope 3c Sound-box ?
Posted: Sun Feb 22, 2026 3:58 am
by emgcr
emgcr wrote: Sat Feb 21, 2026 11:30 am
It is tragic that all the previous posts have been lost as this subject has been studied extensively, written about with many photographs and published in full detail some years back. I do have copies on my computer but, having tried for half an hour, am not able to upload again, sadly.
Whilst the TMF system for adding files and attachments will not allow reposting of my personal files I have found that I am able to send my computer copies to myself
via email so if anyone is interested please just ask and I will forward individually.
Re: Meltrope 3c Sound-box ?
Posted: Sun Feb 22, 2026 5:08 am
by epigramophone
Another easy recognition feature is the needle screw. The Meltrope II is offset, the Meltrope I is not.
This advertisement shows the Meltropes I and III. No mention of the Meltrope II.
Re: Meltrope 3c Sound-box ?
Posted: Sun Feb 22, 2026 1:14 pm
by leels1
The whole point of the screw back is to be able to alter the compression which allegedly alters the sound reproduction.
I have many Meltrope I, II and IIIs. There’s never been a problem with the I and II but the III have had the seized back ring.
Unfortunately the only way I managed to get the ring off is to use a dremmel to gently cut it off and then braize it back together with an extra piece of brass to bridge the small gap. It doesn’t look the prettiest but you can recreate the knurled effect on the ring and it’ll then screw back ok. Once the ring is back on, you can hardly tell it’s been altered.
I only realised recently that the III with the removable chuck was designed to fit with the needle sharpener for BCNs so you didn’t have to unscrew it all the time. Great design - especially given there were two designs of sharpener. The smaller one is a lot simpler and easier to use but the bigger one with the “crank” handle is engineered beautifully.
Re: Meltrope 3c Sound-box ?
Posted: Sun Feb 22, 2026 1:49 pm
by poodling around
leels1 wrote: Sun Feb 22, 2026 1:14 pm
The whole point of the screw back is to be able to alter the compression which allegedly alters the sound reproduction.
I have many Meltrope I, II and IIIs. There’s never been a problem with the I and II but the III have had the seized back ring.
Unfortunately the only way I managed to get the ring off is to use a dremmel to gently cut it off and then braize it back together with an extra piece of brass to bridge the small gap. It doesn’t look the prettiest but you can recreate the knurled effect on the ring and it’ll then screw back ok. Once the ring is back on, you can hardly tell it’s been altered.
I only realised recently that the III with the removable chuck was designed to fit with the needle sharpener for BCNs so you didn’t have to unscrew it all the time. Great design - especially given there were two designs of sharpener. The smaller one is a lot simpler and easier to use but the bigger one with the “crank” handle is engineered beautifully.
Yeah, but in my humble opinion, there is absolutlely no reaon at all ' to use a dremmel to gently cut it off and then braize it back together with an extra piece of brass to bridge the small gap' as a new soft rubber 'backing' and a bit of moving around will accomplish a perfect fit. The seized ring does not have to be removed at all.
No ?
Re: Meltrope 3c Sound-box ?
Posted: Sun Feb 22, 2026 4:05 pm
by Orchorsol
poodling around wrote: Sun Feb 22, 2026 1:49 pm
Yeah, but in my humble opinion, there is absolutlely no reaon at all ' to use a dremmel to gently cut it off and then braize it back together with an extra piece of brass to bridge the small gap' as a new soft rubber 'backing' and a bit of moving around will accomplish a perfect fit. The seized ring does not have to be removed at all.
No ?
I disagree. In my experience the exact fit of the rubber isolators and/or the soundbox backs varies greatly. As well as the compression adjustment making a difference to sound quality (yes it very much can) a grip on the tonearm might not be possible.