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Victor Credenza question
Posted: Mon Jul 22, 2019 10:23 pm
by Willysx1
The Air Lid Supports for my Credenza are not working well. Are there repair parts being made for them or how do I get them working again.
Re: Victor Credenza question
Posted: Mon Jul 22, 2019 10:59 pm
by Retrograde
Do a forum search for "credenza dashpot"
Re: Victor Credenza question
Posted: Mon Jul 22, 2019 11:53 pm
by Victrola-Monkey
Re: Victor Credenza question
Posted: Tue Jul 23, 2019 9:19 am
by electrolaman 64
Restoring the dash pots (actually Victor called them "Air Lid Supports") is not than hard. The thing you have to be the most careful about is unscrewing the cylinder using a pipe wrench or round jawed vice grip that you do not damage the cylinder. Do use a bench vice to hold the brass hex end for best support and leverage. Putting little grip marks in the is inevitable so don't worry about that. Victor did have specific tools for this work which you can see some of in the attached PDF.
The 2 videos Wayne has given you are really good instruction and step by step of exactly what you should do. With one exception!
Gasoline as a solvent rejuvenation for the leather plunger cups (Victor called them "packing rings") is 1. A bit dangerous to have in a open container in you workshop, any spark flash and you have a instant fire, 2. But most importantly I am leery that gasoline may contribute to the leather rotting in the future. Gasoline has more nasty chemicals in it than just a solvent. You see I am 30 years in the pipe organ restoration business and I have a lot of experience with leathers for mechanical use and we want leather to last for many many years.
What I use to rejuvenate those leather packing rings/discs in the Victor Air Lid Supports is Neat's-foot oil. You could also use any liquid leather preservative (my not a cream type). I have on the fly simply used WD-40, but cannot for certain recommend what this does to the leather down the road. Victor's official recommendation was Neat's-foot oil. See attached PDF of The Victor Talking Machine Company Service Bulletin No. 10.
By the way I typically use lacquer thinner or mineral spirits to clean old hardened grease and oil off phonograph parts. But I would not use either of those on the leather either for the same reason as I would not use gasoline, I think it would contribute to the leather rotting.
Carlton Smith
Electrolaman 64