The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Hi everyone! This is my first post on this forum. Never knew there was an active platform online for gramophone enthusiasts to talk and discuss. I have a question which I'm hoping i can get some advice on. I have a HMV 101 which I bought about 7 years ago from a reputable dealer in the UK. It's one of the later versions of the 101 model, circa 1931, just before the 101 phased out.

Anyways, the issue I'm facing is that a number of my records play perfectly fine on some occasions and on other occasions they stop playing midway through. Its frustrating because it leaves questioning whether the problem lies with the machine or the record. I've not done any servicing to my gramophone since purchasing it by the way, perhaps thats the issue? Has anyone faced this similar problem before? I do clean my records very thoroughly from time to time using a toothbrush and a dish detergent with water solution.

Also, with some records I can hear a "clicking" sound while the record is being played. Wonder if any of you guys can help me with this.

Much Appreciated,
Shawn

Usually the clicking indicates there is a crack in the record, or perhaps a deep scratch running across groves.

As for the record stopping, it could be either a mechanical issue or the records. Do the records that stop have anything in common? Some later 78s have this issue. For example MGM records made out of a plastic can be too soft to play on acoustic machines. Not having an HMV portable (although I would like to some day) I will have to leave mechanical issue advice to others.

Clay

If the motor hasn't been serviced, I would recommend having that done. The 101 has a small single spring motor. It could be lack of lubrication, an adjustment needed, or you may need a spring replacement if it's "tired." Plus, as was previously stated, some records are too soft or worn to play properly.

Nothing to do with either the records or the motor, pleased to say.

The "clicking" noise you can hear is coming from the automatic brake. If you study the photo enclosed. take note of the piece with the angled bit pointing towards the turntable spindle. As the arm travels towards the centre, this piece is slowly pushed in, but with every revolution of the turntable, the cog on the underside of the turntable knocks it back, so that it doesn't engage with the cog and stop the turntable. However, when the arm reaches the fast run-out groove at the end of the record, it pushes that piece in so fast that the the cog doesn't have a chance to push it back, so the cog engages, and stops the turntable. The clicking noise you can hear is because that angled piece is sticking, and not being pushed back as the turntable cog hits it, (hence the clicking), and sometimes it will engage fully, and stop the turntable. Clean the pivot that the angled piece swivels on thoroughly, and apply a drop of light oil, i.e. sewing machine oil, and you should find it works as it should.

Barry

A number of factors might cause the halt of a record midway - some of them or an accumulation of all of them.

Some records present more friction and drag, because of wear, the loudness of the recording, the stiffness of the steel needle ("Loud" needles are thicker and stiffer), and the composition of the record itself. I have a HMV 101 and know it was made in the era of acoustic records - those should be played on it.

The hardness of the reproducer gaskets will have an effect on drag.

The most obvious factor is a motor that has not been serviced. A mainspring whose grease has dried can be very weak due to internal friction between the adjacent coils. It is much less likely that the steel spring has become "tired". A drop of oil on the governor friction pad can have a major effect. Cleaning dried grease, gummy oil and dirt from gears and other parts can also have a huge effect.

The machine can be tuned up to play like new.

You are playing 78s on it right? No LP's?


Sorry, sorry, I just had to put in some humor....

My Columbia portable had the same problem. Cleaning the gears and re-oiling them made a huge difference. Before, it barely made it through a single side of a 10" record, now it can play either two sides of 10" records or one side of a 12" record on one winding. The clicking, like the others have said, could be a cracked record or the autobrake mechanism.

Phono48 has this one correct. It's the "velocity trip" of the auto stop causing both the premature stopping and the ticking noise. The one thing I'd add is do NOT oil the other pivot of the mechanism (the one near the top of the photo) - very important as that one needs friction between the parts/layers, adjusted by tightening or loosening the screw, to work properly.

Another thing to mention - it occurs to me that unless the auto stop system is set up properly, "swingers" (records pressed with the grooves off-centre; unfortunately common in the UK) could exacerbate both problems. This is conjecture however.

Orchorsol wrote:Phono48 has this one correct. It's the "velocity trip" of the auto stop causing both the premature stopping and the ticking noise.

Reviewing the original post, I see that shawnxu wrote that some records played okay but others stopped. I had imagined the machine slowly grinding to a halt, rather than making an abrupt stop. I think shawnxu should clarify whether the stop is gradual or sudden.

VintageTechnologies wrote:

Orchorsol wrote:Phono48 has this one correct. It's the "velocity trip" of the auto stop causing both the premature stopping and the ticking noise.

Reviewing the original post, I see that shawnxu wrote that some records played okay but others stopped. I had imagined the machine slowly grinding to a halt, rather than making an abrupt stop. I think shawnxu should clarify whether the stop is gradual or sudden.

Hi guys, thanks for the responses! The stop is gradual, usually midway through the record, before coming to a halt. Though on one particular record it plays for about 2 seconds then stops. The funny thing is that for most of the records that have this problem, on some occasions it can get through the whole song just fine but not all the time. I've tried using different needles of different volumes but the results are inconsistent (i.e. plays through on a soft needle but stops on a medium needle, vice versa).

I guess the consensus is that grammy needs some oil? Just curious, I'm from in Singapore so the prices would probably differ, but how much do gramophone engineers usually charge for a thorough cleaning?

Much Appreciated,
Shawn