1949 Capehart flipover changer Model 115P2 "Modern" video

[barnettrp21122]

I came across this turntable tag that came with the above machine. I forgot I had it. Obviously a new owner could make arrangements to convert the 78rpm changer to play the new "non-standard" records:
Bob

[gregbogantz]

Interesting tag, Bob. I hadn't seen one of those before. It's interesting also that what sounds like advertising fluff is actually true - Capehart and Farnsworth actually DID design some of the most unusual and reliable record changers ever made. And a few klunkers along the way, too. But I give them a lot of credit for trying new ideas.

One of my favorite changers dates from the same period as the 41-E. It's the Farnsworth P-50 series and was made in 1947. It was 78rpm only and never saw a microgroove version made of it. It was replaced across the Farnsworth line with the P-70 series which did get microgroove variants. But it is unique in that a LOT of engineering attention was paid to gentle record handling and specifically to keep the hole from getting hogged out of shellac records which was a failure of many other designs of the day which used singulation fingers in the spindle. The Zenith CobraMatics were notorious for chewing up record holes. The P-50 design is totally different from anything else that has ever been seen in a record changer. These changers had several variations, some with crystal pickups and some with the original GE VR. Attached is a picture of a P-56-MP which uses the GE pickup. It's difficult to describe and it's also hard to see when the changer is operating, but the bottom record in the stack is supported by the the three points comprised of the pusher platform and the two metal flags which turn inward to support the stack during the cycle. This allows the bottom record to slide sideways and clear the shelf on the spindle with almost no load on the spindle shelf which relieves the hole of the stresses of falling off the shelf with several pounds of records on top of it which otherwise tends to break the edge of the brittle shellac at the hole edge. This and other engineering tweaks in the design make this an extremely well thought out machine. Note also the tubular tonearm which Capehart-Farnsworth was one of the earliest makers to use.

[barnettrp21122]

Thanks Greg, for the info about the P-56. I like the picture with the contrasting red pieces and chrome. I figure the the fingers on the right top are for determining record diameter. Wish there was a youtube video of this!
Bob

[gregbogantz]

Hi Bob, No, the chromed flags are part of the record support system - they are not used to sense record size. As I said earlier, this design is unlike anything else you've ever seen in a record changer.

During the change cycle, the record stack is tilted up slightly by raising the spindle, the flags turn inward under the records, the stack is gently lowered onto the flags, and the spindle is lowered slightly more which takes the weight of the record stack off the spindle ledge or shelf. The pusher platform then pushes the bottom record sideways as it is supported by the three points. Note that at this time there is no stress which may cause breakage or chipping of the hole edge as the spindle shelf has retracted below the bottom record. The spindle then rises again with the shelf now clear of the hole edge in the bottom record. As the spindle rises, its shelf contacts the edge of the second record and tilts the entire remaining stack free of the bottom record which is still sitting on the pusher platform and the two chrome flags. This breaks the vacuum between the bottom record and the rest of the stack and frees the record for predictable dropping. Then the pusher platform ledge and the two chrome flags rapidly retract which drops the bottom record straight down onto the platter. No tilting or wobbling on the way down the spindle. The spindle then lowers back to its rest position and tilts the remaining records back to a horizontal position. All this is designed to keep the stresses on the bottom record hole edge to a minimum to prevent chipping of the hole edge. Also toward that same goal, if you look closely at the picture you can see that the bottom portion of the spindle is a tubular collar which is the length of the height of a full stack of records. This collar rotates with the platter which prevents the records on the platter from rubbing on the stationary spindle and possibly causing wow or scuffing the inside of the hole and wearing it. All very ingenious and deliberately well designed to minimize record handling problems and wear. It's a beautiful engineering design and a delight to watch in operation.

This changer is not an intermix design. You must set the pusher platform by rotating it 180 degrees to change it from the 10 inch to the 12 inch setting. When the last record has dropped from the stack, there is a weight sensor linkage connected to the spindle which senses no more records supported by it and which then initiates the auto-shutoff sequence. You can just spy a small red slide switch on the control panel in the picture. This functions the same way as your pushbutton panel on your Capehart - it selects different high frequency filtering on the GE VR pickup for new records, wide range, or old records. Early variants of the P-50 series had velocity trip, but the later versions went to proximity trip since it was simpler and most postwar records had already standardized on the lockout groove diameter. The function switch includes a manual play position that disables the cycle trip and allows records that extend to very small diameters to be played without tripping the mechanism.

I need to get off my dead can and see if I can make a video of this thing in operation with my digital camera. But I haven't done this kind of thing before, so I'll need to learn how to do it first.

[noah300g]

HOpefully some of you folks are still out there as I try to reply to this old thread.
I have a Capehart 116P4, which looks identical (to me) as the changer in your excellent video. I'd love to do the same speed change to mine. Can you give me any hints/clues as to how? Also a recommendation for replacement cartridge. I'm getting conflicting views on RPX vs. vrII from GE as they may have quite different output levels and I want to make sure I get the right one.
Any help appreciated.

[FloridaClay]

Thanks for resurrecting the thread. The Capehart is really slick. I love that changer.

Clay