The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I have a very large Columbia Viva-Tonal 800 with a very large 2'X 3' grille. I know that the top and bottom of the grille are supposed to go in the slots, but I can't seem to get it in without fear of forcing it and breaking the grille. Probably, everyone who has owned a large orthophonic type floor model has run into this problem before. Should I try lubing the edges with liquid soap? Should I grind off some of the edge of the grill so it will fit better? And ideas?

I had that problem with a grill I made for a friends large brunswick. I looked at the slot carefully and discovered that one end of it had warped enough to keep the grill from moving up into it. In that case I sanded down the back side of the grill so that it would fit into the area. I would check though to be sure there is no dirt or other build up in the slot preventing the taps from freely fitting. If nothing works then I would probably very slightly sand down the back side where the tap is so that it will fit. It may be like the one I had to work on, only a small section is preventing the wood from moving up. You might try a think piece of wood the same thickness and see how it clears over the length of the slot, you may find a tight spot.

good luck
Larry

Fortunately the original grille cloth on my Columbia 800 is OK as is, so I haven't had to mess with it, but I have had similar experiences with the large Orthophonics.

I usually start by making sure the channels the grille slides into are as smooth as possible. I wrap some sand paper around a thin board of the proper dimension and slide it up and down the channel.

Then I use bar soap of the appropriate dimension (like a used bar, or small hotel soap) to make the channel even smoother. I've never used liquid soap. It way work, but I didn't want to risk getting any on the cloth.

My experience with machines that have "pop-out" grilles ( no retaining screws ) is that there is a rabetted (thinner) lip on the top and bottom edges of the grille, that fit-into the tracks / slots of the cabinet. One rabbet is usually wider than the other: this is usually along the top-edge. The top-edge goes-into its track first, then the grille is swung-in, and gently dropped so that the bottom rabbet engages its slot.

( Sorry if you already knew all of that )

I have run across a few grilles that had either warped, bowed, or in some cases they plywood had started to separate, becoming a little too thick to fit in the track.

Was the grille stubborn during removal ?

As for a lubricant, I would suggest bar soap, or one of these bees-wax blocks found at the hardware store for lubricating window-runs, screws, etc. Liquid soap is best reserved for mounting automobile tires .

If you are going to do any sanding, I think I would carefully dress-down the back sides of the rabbeted-edge. It would also be good to run a dull screw-driver through the bottom slot and remove any debris / phono needles that might have accumulated there...

There also could be a top or bottom to the grille itself that is not so obvious I found this to be true with my A150 which looks the same both ways but one edge is narrower than the other I took mine out when transporting it when I bought it and when I put it back in I couldn't get it back out but eventually did I marked a little T on the back side as to have that not happen again and it comes out and goes back in easily now
Dwight