Anyone Ever Experience Premature Braking?

[thepianolist]

Still going through the records I got with my '26 Credenza and the strangest thing happened! Last night while I was listening to Victor 21734-B "Sally Of My Dreams", the brake engaged stopping the record. Now I have been going through a couple hundred records and this never happened before, so I started to investigate. I put in a new needle, gave the crank a few turns, started the turntable and lowered the sound box. As I watched the record play, I noticed the arm swinging back and forth quite a bit. I know it can move a little while playing a record, but this seemed excessive to me. I let the record play and when it got about ¾ of the way to the end, it stopped again. Looks to me as though the record might have been pressed off center enough to trigger the automatic brake with the arm movement. Even stranger, the other side, Victor 21734-A "I loved You Then As I Love You Now" played with negligible arm movement!
Has anyone ever had this problem with an Orthophonic record triggering the brake before the end of the record?

[brianu]

it could be that the auto stop is set too tightly... you could loosen the spring that triggers it... but if it's only doing it on that one record, then it's probably the record, not the machine. if the tonearm is swinging a bit erratically while playing that record, that's definitely what's prematurely triggering the auto stop (which as you probably know is caused by the backward movement of the tonearm, which ideally shouldn't occur until the end of the record when the unrecorded grooves guide the arm such that it swings back and forth). this can happen if the center hole has been worn such that the record isn't perfectly centered on the turntable, at least based on my experience. it really doesn't sound like such a big deal... the machine sounds fine.

[larryh]

This happens now and then with a record such as you describe where the grooves are stamped off center a bit causing it to shift in and out just enough to trip the automatic break which works on exactly that same principle. Any movement backwards can release the gear and cause the break to activate. I have had my portable to do it more than the credenza, but both will on off center records if off enough. I haven't attempted to do any kind of adjustment but it may be that there is some adjustment under the turntable that would allow for a bit more movement before it trips..


Larry

[thepianolist]

Thanks, guys! I figured it was just a poorly pressed record. When the record is spinning, you can even see the smooth outside rim of the record getting wider and narrower as the record turns leading me to believe that poor quality control is to blame - especially since the other side and all my other Orthophonic records play properly.

Bryant Stott

[JohnM]

Hey Bryant!

The smooth outside rim is called the 'run-in'; between the grooves and the label is the 'run-out'.

Kind regards,
John M

[thepianolist]

Thanks, John! It's always good to learn the acceptable terminology for the things you want to discuss so everyone will know what you are trying to convey. Although I have had my Victrola XI for over 30 years, I have never been that technically oriented with it. It works fine and I enjoy listening to the records. Now that I have a Credenza that isn't collector perfect, I am trying to learn some of the technical aspects of this hobby and I really appreciate all you experts taking the time to help me with this. So, thanks again, John and all those willing to share their expertise with those of us less informed about these great machines!

Bryant Stott

[JohnM]

Bryant,
You may want to read this article I wrote a few years ago when I was assistant director of the Birthplace of Country Music Alliance in Bristol, Va.-Tn. It has a lot of information about the advent of electrical recording technology that may enhance your appreciation of your Credenza. There are six chapters in the article, accessed from the menu on the left of the page.

http://www.birthplaceofcountrymusic.org/node/34

Kind regards,
John M

[thepianolist]

Thanks for the link, John. It looks as though electrical recording saved Victor! Great information!

Bryant Stott