The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Just curious if anyone has talked to Peter Wall recently. I sent an ortho to him for rebuilding in late October and he called a week later and said it would be a month out as he had a backlog. I attempted to give him a call on two separate days last week for an update as it's been almost 3 months and the voicemail prompt indicated that the mailbox was full. An email also sent went unanswered although that seems to be the standard and didn't expect a response. Anyone know if everything is OK with him?

Hi:

I had a Orthophonic rebuilt by him, he did a great job. That was in 2011. However, it did take him some time.

I do hope he is alright.

Of all the queries and questions, this must be the most-asked over all on the forum
He'll respond, Grasshopper. Don't rush the Master. It will be worth the wait. Of course, I too hope everything is OK.

People now a days need a good lashing from their mothers...it's called common courtesy...I have had this same thing happen several times myself. You entrust someone with you property to care for it for you and they don't even have the common courtesy to respond to calls or emails to let you know what is going on. Drives me nuts and makes me find more responsible people even though it might cost more..I think it's a game where they want to make themselves more important or really just don't care....I fully understand life events that slow things down, but at some point, respond to an email and let folks know what is going on...not too much to ask from anyone.

This is one of many accounts about different events from different folks with different rebuilders...if you don't have time or don't want to do a job, don't take it in...

Always consider others....

I had the same long wait before receiving a rather over the top set of phone calls. I may have been the exception but my experience was not good. I had read the reviews and expected some minor buzzing my orthophonic portable had to be magically fixed. It had good tone overall and fine volume when it left me. I ended up after months of waiting with a machine that sounds like its in a closet with the door shut, no volume and lousy tone.. I contacted him only to be told it sounded wonderful when it left. I haven't used it at all after the first few disappointing tries. Mine must be the exception but I just feel that the experience should be honestly presented. Amazon has reviews for all its products and I don't feel is inappropriate to give an honest review of a service.

Larry

Maybe Ya'll would have better luck contacting his cousin Midge? --> http://forum.talkingmachine.info/viewto ... 14&t=20196

I hear she does good work.

Peter Wall is the Grand Old Man of Orthophonic rebuilds, with experience going back to the early '70s, and he may be aware of that status. If I remember from the last time this question was asked, he hadn't been well for part of last year, and that added to a backlog. When I sent my Orthophonic soundbox to him, I was aware of his also legendary propensity for having loooong telephone conversations, and I asked a good friend who's also a collector, and who has much more patience with phones than I do to handle the transaction. Even he was challenged by the length of the calls, but we're still friends (I think). No one is saying that Mr. Wall enjoys extra-long cocktail hours on a regular schedule, but given the reports of some of his phone calls, I don't think it's unfair to suggest that such might be the case. In any case, he's not getting any younger, and neither am I, and I find myself moving pretty slowly at times, too. None of which is to excuse the complete lack of communication for longish periods of time that seem to be becoming more common, but folks should probably go into any dealings with Mr. Wall knowing that things might go that way.

On the upside, while he wasn't able to do a complete rebuild on my (pot metal) reproducer, whatever magic he did work made it play much, much better than it did when it left here, and I'm grateful to him for that.

TL/DR: What Torjazzer said.

On preview: Vince:

In defense of Mr. Wall, whom I have never met nor had any business dealings with, some customers can be difficult to deal with. In the past, I have done quite a bit of phonograph repair and, while most of my customers were great people to deal with, there were some who were very difficult. I had a few who were warned that I had a backlog and it would be a few days, weeks or occasionally months before I could even look at their equipment. I would then get a phone call 2 days later wanting to know how their job was coming along and if they could have it back completed in 3 days because someone important to them was coming over and they must have it to show to that person.
I'll say this also: Orthos are notoriously difficult to rebuild, especially potmetal ones which can easily end up as a handful of fragments even if one is careful. I have done many of them and I know that I need to be in a relaxed frame of mind and not feel rushed when working on them. The ability to successfully repair them also requires time to develop the necessary familiarity, experience, methods and tools.
Please note: these are simply my personal observations gleaned from a 30+ year career as a repair technician and are not intended to be seen as pointing a finger at anyone on this forum.

Jim

3 months for my first one I sent Peter - sounds fantastic, 4 months for my second one - sounds fantastic. Do it yourself then if you think you can duplicate the old masters "better than when new" work What's the rush?

Folks we are missing the point...Taking time to do quality work is very understandable, but lack of communication such as not answering emails or returning phone calls is just not acceptable...too many forms of communication nowadays to not have the courtesy of a reply....