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Hi,
I recently bought a Columbia Viva tonal grafonola 153, from a gentleman who had owned it for the past 25 years. I got it home and I played a record with one needle it had. It played well, but I turned the record to play the next side and it wouldn't play as soon as I placed the needle on the record. I guess the needle must old. I would like to know what is the basic care required for the gramophone. How do I replace the Needle? Do I need to oil or wax some parts of the gramophone regularly? Any other basic care information would be really helpful.
Thank you.

Hello and welcome.

Start here:
http://www.antiquephono.org/basic-antiq ... onal-tips/

You'll find that quite helpful to answer basic questions. Then come back here and use the board's search feature - you'll find many questions have already been answered. Feel free to post questions, though; someone here will be happy to help.

One major tip is that each needle is meant to to be used only once. Needles are available from many suppliers (see the Links section of the board) or on eBay at minimal cost.

52089 wrote:Hello and welcome.

Start here:
http://www.antiquephono.org/basic-antiq ... onal-tips/

You'll find that quite helpful to answer basic questions. Then come back here and use the board's search feature - you'll find many questions have already been answered. Feel free to post questions, though; someone here will be happy to help.

One major tip is that each needle is meant to to be used only once. Needles are available from many suppliers (see the Links section of the board) or on eBay at minimal cost.

That article continues to picture an Exhibition sound box that cries out for new front gaskets, as well as a thorough cleaning. I hope neophytes realize that any sound box in that condition needs to be completely overhauled, as described here, for example: http://www.nipperhead.com/old/reproducers.htm. Click on "Victor Exhibition for details. For OP's Viva-Tonal sound box, the same advice also applies, mutatis mutandis. Unfortunately, though, the Nipperhead cite seems no longer to be active, so one must search elsewhere for help with other sound boxes.

Shre2017:

At some point, you might want to hunt down a copy of "The Compleat Talking Machine" by Eric Reiss. I don't know if it's still in print, but you can find it for sale at varying prices online. It's chock full of illustrations that walk you through most types of repairs and maintenance.


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Hi Henry:

Detailed instructions for rebuilding the Exhibition sound box (again) also appear at the bottom of this page -- http://www.antiquephono.org/sound-subst ... j-wakeman/ It mentions the use of shellac to affix the mica to the rubber gaskets--something overlooked by most repairmen today.

There's not a lot online concerning the repair of other types of sound boxes or reproducers, unfortunately.

OrthoFan

Henry wrote: That article continues to picture an Exhibition sound box that cries out for new front gaskets, as well as a thorough cleaning. I hope neophytes realize that any sound box in that condition needs to be completely overhauled...

The photo of that unrestored Exhibition has a caption, which includes this:

(Note: this is an unrestored sound box. For optimal playback and minimal record wear, your sound box should be rebuilt with new gaskets, rear flange, and proper adjustment. See #4 below.)

The "#4 below" references the paragraph in the article which reads:

"4) Most antique disc phonograph sound boxes are equipped with mica diaphragms. Over the years, the rubber gaskets that suspend the diaphragm have probably dried out. This will cause the machine to play with buzzing and generally poor fidelity. In 99 cases out of 100, a newly-acquired antique phonograph will need its sound box rebuilt. Although not a difficult job, it is a delicate operation and should be performed by an experienced person."

Is that photo really a problem? If the neophytes are missing these two notations, chances are they're missing much more as well...

George P.

Another point I might add is that this Columbia is definitely not a 'Viva-tonal'. The straight tone arm, and the louvers in front, are a dead giveaway.

This is most likely one of the "New Columbias" that immediately preceded the Viva-tonal models: a view of the reproducer face would clinch it.

Bill

Lucius1958 wrote:Another point I might add is that this Columbia is definitely not a 'Viva-tonal'. The straight tone arm, and the louvers in front, are a dead giveaway.

This is most likely one of the "New Columbias" that immediately preceded the Viva-tonal models: a view of the reproducer face would clinch it.

Bill

I presume the guy calls it a Viva Tonal because the transfer says so , how else would he have got the term from as he knows nothing about gramophones , perhaps he would care to put a picture of the transfer on which would help

Not his but another Columbia Viva Tonal Grafonola 153m note the straight tone arm

phonogfp wrote:

Henry wrote: That article continues to picture an Exhibition sound box that cries out for new front gaskets, as well as a thorough cleaning. I hope neophytes realize that any sound box in that condition needs to be completely overhauled...

The photo of that unrestored Exhibition has a caption, which includes this:

(Note: this is an unrestored sound box. For optimal playback and minimal record wear, your sound box should be rebuilt with new gaskets, rear flange, and proper adjustment. See #4 below.)

The "#4 below" references the paragraph in the article which reads:

"4) Most antique disc phonograph sound boxes are equipped with mica diaphragms. Over the years, the rubber gaskets that suspend the diaphragm have probably dried out. This will cause the machine to play with buzzing and generally poor fidelity. In 99 cases out of 100, a newly-acquired antique phonograph will need its sound box rebuilt. Although not a difficult job, it is a delicate operation and should be performed by an experienced person."

Is that photo really a problem? If the neophytes are missing these two notations, chances are they're missing much more as well...

George P.

Oops---you're so right. My apologies to all concerned. Oh well, another day, another brain fart

Lucius1958 wrote:Another point I might add is that this Columbia is definitely not a 'Viva-tonal'. The straight tone arm, and the louvers in front, are a dead giveaway.

Bill

Hi Bill:

The British Viva Tonal models were very different from those produced in the US -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4dZVTfwzqs (This is the one Soundgen posted)

Here's a close-up screen capture of the Viva-Tonal logo from the video -- The straight tonearm was coupled with a metal bifurcated horn, hidden behind the louvers:
I believe the earlier British Viva-Tonal 153 models had the straight tonearm, and later ones were fitted with the "Plano-Reflex" style arm. (I've seen photos of the same model with both style tonearms.)

HTH,
OrthoFan