The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I have rebuilt 3 different types of reproducers with new gaskets and micas. Most records sound good but
during the loud and especially low frequency (deep tone) passages there are always rattles and excessive
vibration. Sometimes to the point that the needle will actually skip from the vibrations. It seems to be
most pronounced with Classical records like Bach Toccata and Fugue for example. Any ideas what might be
causing this or is it simply a limitation of the technology itself? Thanks.

It could possibly be that you are playing electrically recorded records with loud needles. Suggest your try soft tone needles and see if that helps.

This one does it the most: its a Victor Red Seal record. There is no reference to being electrically recorded.
Sorry the picture is not the greatest.

What brand are the soundboxes in question?
Im wondering if perhaps the needle bar pivots might be too tight or loose, and either the lack of, or too much movement is happening at the needle as a result.
Then again, there are a couple different sized gaskets that were used in soundboxes. The Exhibition type is the most common, but there is also a slightly larger diameter that was used in some, such as Pathé, Oro-tone etc.
Also if the soundboxes are pot metal, they may have swollen & the mica could be a little loose.

That's an electrical recording from the thirties. The little VE in the diamond that you can see pressed in the shellac above the label tells the tale. That Stokowski transcription of the Toccatta and Fugue is a real work-out for an earlier mica sound box. The record was a sonic show stopper when it was issued.

Jim

Correct, that record is not meant for earlier type reproducers and would probably come close to distorting, if it doesn't on a orthophonic type reproducer. I stick pretty much to acoustic recording for those earlier machines. Some of the latter designs used mica as well and worked pretty well, but generally they are larger and can handle a bit of vibration better, but yes a soft needle or medium tone at the most. Actually the Telefunken portable I have that is a latter type has a very large diaphragm and even with a soft needle it can run you out of the house.

Thanks for all the input guys. The reproducers are Victor No 2, Starr, and Silvertone. I tried some of the older black label Victor
records and they seem to be much less of a problem. The Silvertone does it the most but it has the smallest mica so that seems
to make sense it would have the most vibrations. I tried loosening the retaining screws on the needle holders and that helps a little on the Starr and did not change much at all on the Silvertone. I will just stick to the older records and play the newer ones on my fake "antique" crosly. lol.