The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

So I just got my grandparents old silvertone restored. It is a model 5085/5086 console with turntable. After an almost full rebuild of power supply, re-capped, and complete idle wheel rebuild it sounds great and for the most part seems to function as it should. But... it stops short of almost all records and wants to begin the change cycle... It seems to do this with any single sized records(mainly 45s but still does it with some of the smaller 33s that are out now) but will also do it on many of the full length. If there is a way to just turn off the changer function all together I think it would help or solve that part of the issue, but I can not find any switch or lever that seems to have that ability. Plus ideally I would like to have this working too. I would think there would be some sort of adjustment that could affect where the arm starts and stops for changing but I can't seem to find anything that does. Also, even if playing a full size 33 it will just hit the end and start again about half way through, as if it was changing 45s...

This is actually the first time I've ever bothered to post anything on a forum, so looking forward to all the free expert advice... =)
Thank you in advance

Perhaps someone here can help you, but this forum is for phonographs of the 'Golden Age' -- 1877-1929.

Sorry, I did see that but am running out of options and trying all avenues I can find. Subject seemed close enough to give this forum a shot. Hopefully don't waste anyone's time and apologize for the incorrect placement.

Not a problem. Have you tried www.audiokarma.com? That is about more recent stuff.

Bluedog,

Give the guys over at http://www.phonoland.com
a try.

They are just the opposite of here. Their
specialty is the later electric, tube-amp. stuff
with changers.

Best of luck to you. Chuck

Thank you both for the help. I have found a few other forums as well and seem to be getting a lot of responses already. I'll be back on this one when I find my Edison Wax Cylinder machine I guess.

Gary at V-M Enthusiasts ( http://www.thevoiceofmusic.com/ ) should be able to help you, with any necessary spare parts and record changer service tips.

Your machine may be a bit modern for some of us, but welcome aboard anyway.

Phonographs and records are a wide ranging and endlessly faschinating hobby.

Perhaps now that you've got your family Silvertone under your belt you will come across a little Victrola IV or an interesting Silvertone Tru-Phonic, or even a 1940 vintage wind-up portable, and will discover how much fun one can have with 78's!

If not, I'm sure that you'll still have a wonderful time!

Silvertone changers of the 1950s and later were usually made by either VM (Voice of Music) or by Crescent. It sounds like yours was originally designed to have a "velocity" trip which senses the more rapid motion of the tonearm as it traverses the leadout groove after the end of the music area. This is opposed to the "proximity" trip which is set to trip when the tonearm reaches the final lockout groove diameter. Velocity trips were common in the changers of this vintage and newer. If the trip linkage is gummed up with dirt and old lube (a typical problem), the changer will trip before the end of the music as it appears to be doing with your machine. Although there could be some other problem, the solution for this is to clean up all the mechanism and linkages and properly lubricate everything. Almost all record changers made in the 1980s or earlier have dried lube that impairs their proper operation, and they need to be cleaned and serviced and adjusted to work properly. The velocity trip linkages normally should run dry of all lubrication.