The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Hi, Wonder if anyone can help - I have just rebuilt my AT with a replacement (original) carriage, tube and reproducer. It all went together well and the carriage and tube slide freely with no horn attached and it will play beautifully. As soon as I put a 14" horn on, the tube almost locks up and hardly moves. It is all well oiled and the guide moves freely. With a really light cardboard cone horn it runs fine. There is plenty of power in the motor as well. Seems the weight of the horn is causing the tube to bind - any thoughts ??
Thanks
Andrew

Hi,
I wish I could help you but I don't know what would be causing it to bind other than the horn is too heavy. My AT will play just fine with a 14" horn on it. All I can say is make sure everything moves freely but you already said everything is well oiled and moves freely so I don't know. Good luck
-Nick

I once had a similar problem with either an A or an AT (I don't remember which, but their upper works are nearly identical). The tongue points straight down from the carriage and rides in a slot. I figured out that with a bit of weight on the carriage, the tongue was encountering friction from the rear surface of that slot. I took a piece of very fine emery paper, and smoothed the faces of the tongue and the slot. Then I put a drop of oil on a Q-tip and lubricated the surfaces. It solved the problem.

George P.

Good thinking George!

Thanks, George... I am having that same problem with my "A"...