The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Don't forget to treat the lid gingerly they can get damaged easily and it can be really ugly.

When transporting a DD lying down, remove the turntable so that it does not come off during transport and damage anything. Depending on the model, you should be able to easily turn the speed regulator down until the turntable shaft stops turning.

I place a blanket over the lid and then wrap a nylon ratchet strap over and under the machine and cinch it down just enough to secure the lid from flopping open.

In addition to the lid, pull the platter off. Make sure the tone arm is in the raised (non-engaged) position. fix the horn assembly so it doesn't move around (i stuff a large beach towel around it. Use one that can get grease on it). Remove any records.

Once that this point I wrap the machine in a moving pad/blanket and strap it to a furniture dolly. The whole thing goes in the back of the van on it's back. When I arrive, it is a simple removal from the car, and to it's next destination..

I am certainly no Diamond Disk expert but I have some experience hauling them. The early machines, like an A-250, have a mechanism that just sits in the compartment. You've got the remove the mechanism or fill the area between the deck and inside of the lid with blankets or pillows so the mechanism can't move. Next, you have to band the lid so it can't open. The later machines have the mechanism that is fixed in place. Make sure those bolts are tight, remove the turntable and reproducer and secure the lid. I recomend stopping at your local bike shop and asking for a junk tube from the discard pile. A thin road bike tire works best and just cut out the stem. If you go to Union I'll have a bunch of tubes to give away. Jerry

It's really not that difficult to remove the entire motor board and horn assembly - depending on the model of course. Just a few big square nuts and screws. I heard the rod that raises and lowers the reproducer and the horn unit can easily be broken or become dislodged. I have a DD where that seems to have happened. When lowered the reproducer's diamond barely makes contact with the record so it does not play. The long rod going up to the handle which the horn is also attached seems to have been jarred out of wack. I have not played around with this machine yet
so it has not been fixed yet.

Be wary of loose glue-joints... I was loading my S-19 into my car to give to a friend and I was quite surprised when the whole top moulding around cabinet (what the lid seats-on)pulled-loose.

Moving pads and ratchet-straps (not too tight) aren't a bad idea.

Good luck !

I'll put in my vote for removing the motor from the case entirely before moving. For one thing, it makes the case a lot lighter...

Bill