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There's an interesting Victor radio/phono player for sale on Humbolt, CA craigslist. What is the purpose of the second arm? Jerry Blais

Jerry B. wrote:There's an interesting Victor radio/phono player for sale on Humbolt, CA craigslist. What is the purpose of the second arm? Jerry Blais

If you mean this? It droppeth ye discs.

That is the 1933 RCA Duo model 331.

There are a couple videos of this changer in action on Youtube. Here is one that has been restored.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0ZGDJdHrZs

I had one. You stacked records upon the turntable by means of a spindle of variable height. When one record was completed, the arm would fling it off into the felt-lined compartment.
It was fairly rough on records. Lots of edge chips and center hole damage.

There are a couple videos of this changer in action on Youtube. Here is one that has been restored.

I watched the video and it's very interesting. Is there pot metal in the mechanism?

Thanks, Jerry

No pot metal, but they are pretty particular about the records they will play. A friend of mine has one, and it's kind of interesting to watch it but it does mess up once in awhile.

I have a 231 model. It works pretty well, and has never damaged a record. The change cycle is very quick compared to earlier Victor changers. The most that's happened for me is that the top record sometimes is not "flung" far enough, and the record can get caught as the changer arm lowers into place. It just waits patiently until the owner comes to set it free!
Bob

I hope someone on the Forum gets this one. Jerry

That's a pretty cabinet!
Bob

What's a ballpark value for one of these? It would be a 740 mile round trip for me to pick this up. Jerry