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I need some help/advice for a Victrola Colony I just got.
Posted: Sat Jun 09, 2018 11:13 am
by dennislpr
Hello everyone, a couple of days ago this little Victor Victrola Colony was for sale here in South Florida. I had to drive almost two hours to get it, but it was worth it, I got it for an incredible price and I'm very happy with it. This is my first orthophonic machine, for some reason I'm getting this high pitch hiss on some records, is that normal? The sound quality is quite good but since is my first orthophonic machine I don't have another one to compare it to. I'm going to add some pictures of it and two videos that I uploaded to YouTube, you can hear the issue I'm having on the second video very clearly, what do you think? Should I rebuild the reproducer? Thank you.
First YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/pJ1JOiRBTCI
Second YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/peDaACqxvKU
Re: I need some help/advice for a Victrola Colony I just got
Posted: Sat Jun 09, 2018 11:44 am
by 52089
You probably have a combination of surface noise and reproducer issues. Clean your records gently and have your reproducer rebuilt and you will hear a difference.
Re: I need some help/advice for a Victrola Colony I just got
Posted: Sat Jun 09, 2018 12:03 pm
by dennislpr
The records were cleaned previously of making the videos, I guess is it might be the reproducer, funny thing is that I only hear it on some records, it doesn't quite make sense to me, if it were a reproducer issue don't you think that the high pitch hiss should be heard on all records not some of them? Thanks for the advice.
Re: I need some help/advice for a Victrola Colony I just got
Posted: Sat Jun 09, 2018 12:14 pm
by OrthoFan
The high pitched ringing tone really comes through on the second video! I agree that the reproducer (sound box) could stand an overhaul.
One thing you can check, make sure that the small screw -->
- Capture.JPG (54.68 KiB) Viewed 1604 times
...is not touching the needle-bar.
Most likely, the diaphragm gaskets could stand a replacement, along with the ball bearings holding the needle bar pivot.
OrthoFan
Re: I need some help/advice for a Victrola Colony I just got
Posted: Sat Jun 09, 2018 7:01 pm
by dennislpr
I just checked, the small screw is not touching the needle bar.
Re: I need some help/advice for a Victrola Colony I just got
Posted: Sat Jun 09, 2018 10:34 pm
by marcapra
I was going to say that different records sound different because some records are worn out. I just played Boo Hoo by Guy Lombardo and it sounded terrible from record wear hiss. Well, that makes sense since it was a big hit in 1937 and got played a lot. but the high pitched squeal on your second video sounds like a lubrication problem or a dragging brake.
Re: I need some help/advice for a Victrola Colony I just got
Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2018 4:30 pm
by rhammond
I redid one of these for a customer several years ago. What was amazing on that one was the size of the motor. For the size of the cabinet, it had a motor that you would expect to find in a portable. The one that I was working on had a broken spring and I remember thinking that it just would not play well. The surprising thing is that it ended up being a very good motor and it played well. If I remember correctly, the production numbers were fairly low on this one compared to a lot of machines of this era.
Re: I need some help/advice for a Victrola Colony I just got
Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2018 4:50 pm
by Springmotor70
Just as OrthoFan recommended, try adjusting the limit screw while it is playing...