Silverton phonograph identification

[QuickDog]

It's a Silvertone portable phonograph. I just can't seem to find the model (no identification on the machine itself). I lost the needle for it and want to get it replaced.

[estott]

This takes plain steel needles which you use once for each record and then throw away. Search Ebay for Victrola Needles.

[Joe_DS]

These were designed to play shellac based 78 rpm records only, and as estott notes, they use steel needles, which were designed to play one or two sides of a record before changing.

I don't know the model, but it's very close to one that was offered in the 1938 Sears catalog. Here's a blurry blowup image of a thumbnail image I found via Google's image search:

Since the model you have does not have the record storage pocket, I'm guessing that it might be post-WWII -- circa 1946/1947.

There's a youtube video of one that seems to use the same case as the one you have, but the tonearm is positioned on the other side of the turntable --

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-wJtJbiLPs[/youtube]

As with many acoustic phonograph videos you find on YouTube, it sounds HORRIBLE, probably because a worn out needle is being used, or the reproducer needs a re-build, or both.

Steel needles are available from a number of sellers, and prices vary. You can easily find them by doing a Google search for:

steel needles phonograph OR gramophone

HTH,
Joe

[QuickDog]

Thanks! I have two questions:

1. How long would you say one needle would last on a semi-scratched typical 78 RPM record? Are the needles even worth cleaning due to their short life?
2. I looked online and these needles seem to be about $0.10 a piece or less (usually a lot cheaper), depending on the seller. The only thing is that there are different "tone"s of needles. Medium, loud, soft, etc. What are the differences?

The needle I had before sounded terrible. Kinda like the one in the video. Truly terrifying. I'm glad I lost it now, or I would've kept using the same one thinking it was the phonograph's fault.

[Phototone]

1. The needles last for 1 (one) side of 1 (one) record.
2. The soft-medium-loud designations refer to the loudness of the sound produced by the needle, still one play one side per needle.

[estott]

You use the needle ONCE, that means at most one record, two sides- then you throw it away. The idea is that the needle wears, not the record.

The difference between loud, medium, soft needles is the thickness of the steel - get a pack of medium to start.

[QuickDog]

I found these ones cheap on ebay. Will these work?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/100-MEDIUM-TONE ... 58a9536ccb

[Edisone]

Get the Medium Tone from Martin Bryan. http://www.ebay.com/itm/1000-Victrola-P ... 441wt_1159


I have never had a problem with these needles.

[QuickDog]

Is there a smaller package, like 500 needles available?

[estott]

I found these ones cheap on ebay. Will these work?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/100-MEDIUM-TONE ... 58a9536ccb

These will work just fine.